Jayasuriya, Mahanama to play for charity

KATHMANDU: Retired Sri Lankan cricketers Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama have expressed willingness to play a charity cricket match in aid for the victims of Nepal earthquake.

The Malaysian Cricket Board is organising the charity match between Nepal and World XI in yet to be decided date. Cricket Association of Nepal had already approved to play in the event which will be played at the Kinrara Oval in Kuala Lumpur.

Jayasuriya tweeted: “I joined World XI to #HelpNepal in Malaysia for #BatforNepal project. Hope you all who in Malaysia will join the cause.” 

Malaysian Cricket Board President Mahinda Vallipuram also posted Mahanama’s message in support to the BatforNepal charity match.

“In my cricket career that has spanned over 25 years as both a player (13 years) and as an ICC Elite Panel Match Referee (12 years), there have been a few occasions like this when the broader cricket community needs to come to come together. This is the time especially for the past and present players who command a strong public profile to raise awareness of the Nepal earthquake fundraising match being held in Kinrara Malaysia between Nepal Cricket Team and the World XI. I am personally behind them and support this noble humanitarian cause whole heartedly. I bat for the worthy cause.”

Jayasuriya and Mahanama were the key players when Sri Lanka won the 1996 World Cup. The 45-year-old former allrounder is the chairman of cricket selection committee in Sri Lanka.

Jayasuriya played 110 Tests, 445 one-day internationals and 31 twenty20s before retiring in 2011. Mahanama played 52 Tests and 213 ODIs for Sri Lanka.