Top Aussie cricketers to take part in COVID-19 fundraiser for India

Sydney: Top Australian cricketers will participate in a 12-hour gaming live stream on Thursday to raise money for UNICEF Australia's India COVID Appeal.

The brainchild of Big Bash paceman Josh Lalor, the initiative will let fans watch the likes of Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Starc and Josh Hazlewood on a live stream whem they talk about cricket and show their wares as gamers.

The fundraiser will begin at 0130 hrs IST and will also see participation from all-rounder Moises Henriques, women cricketer Alyssa Healy and South African Rilee Rossouw among others.

Lalor's idea was inspired in April by Cummins' donation of 50,000 dollar to UNICEF Australia's Appeal and he says all donations, no matter how small, will help those impacted by the ongoing health crisis.

'Being a cricketer from Australia, we have a unique relationship with Indian people,' Lalor told cricket.com.au.

'It's a beautiful part of the world, they're absolutely cricket mad and they bend over backwards to make every cricketer feel welcomed and accommodated.

If we're able to raise any money at all to help what's going on in India, that'll go a long way,' he added.Lalor will even host an informal discussion with Cricket Australia's new CEO, Nick Hockley, alongside Todd Greenberg, the CEO of the Australian Cricketers' Association.

'I thought it'd be great for those guys (Hockley and Greenberg) to sit back and talk cricket with the public in a way they're not used to. It'll be a great opportunity for them to portray a slightly different message to the cricketing public,' Lalor said.The live-stream will be available on Lalor's Twitch page.

Australian Cricket has so far raised more than AUD 280,000 as part of UNICEF Australia's India COVID-19 Crisis Appeal.According to Union Health Ministry, India on Wednesday recorded 1,32,788 fresh Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, pushing the total infections to 2,83,07,832.(UNI)