Yuvraj Singh and Wasim Akram to feature in the charity Bushfire Relief Bash match

The Australian cricket fraternity has come up with the idea of a charity T20 match in order to help the victims of the wild bushfires raging throughout the continent, which has caused perhaps irreparable damage to the flora and fauna of the country. There have been donations and help from all over the world to fight the fires and help out the victims as well.

Cricket Australia is doing its bit given that they have organized a charity T20 cricket match, which will see some of the legends coming together for a noble cause of raising money to be used for various relief measures for the people and animals affected by the raging fires. The match will be played on February 8 and will be a curtain-raiser for the final of the ongoing Big Bash League season.

The match will see legends Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne captaining two teams in what has been dubbed as the Bushfire Relief Bash and has West Indies’ legend Courtney Walsh and Indian great Sachin Tendulkar acting in roles of coaches of the two teams respectively. Apart from them, many other former Australian cricketers have announced participation for the good cause.

Wasim Akram and Yuvraj Singh confirm participation in the match

However, there was no international flavor in the match until India’s Yuvraj Singh and Pakistani great Wasim Akram announced confirmation that they will play in the Bushfire Relief Bash as well. Yuvraj Singh retired from the game last year and has been active on the T20 league circuit, while 53-year-old Wasim Akram has transformed into a media personality after retiring from the game in 2003.

Yuvraj Singh has not played a competitive match since the Abu Dhabi T10 league. He was the Man of the Tournament when India won the World Cup at home in 2011 and played a huge role in India winning the T20 World cup in 2007 as well. Wasim Akram, on the other hand, needs no introduction with 414 wickets in 104 Tests as well as 502 in 356 ODI matches.

Apart from the Relief match, a women’s T20 international between Australia and India at Junction Oval in Melbourne will also take place. And fundraising initiatives across all three matches and all money raised will be donated to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund.

Bushfire Cricket Bash

Players: Shane Warne (c), Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist, Alex Blackwell, Andrew Symonds, Brad Fittler, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Elyse Villani, Grace Harris, Justin Langer, Luke Hodge, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Phoebe Litchfield, Shane Watson, Yuvraj Singh, Wasim Akram (More to be announced)

Coaches: Sachin Tendulkar, Courtney Walsh

Non-playing capacity: Steve Waugh, Mel Jones, Andrew Johns