Lara given the all-clear to play for ICC XI

Brian Lara: set to play fund-raiser © Getty Images Enlarge

Doubts looming over the availability of Brian Lara, the West Indies captain, for the fund-raiser match have been put to rest with the team management giving him the green signal to play in the one-dayer for the tsunami victims to be held on January 10.

Lara, Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo had earlier been named in the ICC XI, but the West Indies team management had expressed their concern in permitting the cricketers to play, as the team had consecutive practice matches against Australia A on days before the fund-raising match in Hobart.

Imran Khan, the West Indies media liaison, told CMC Sport: "There was some concern by the coach. He was just a bit cautious to ensure that all the logistics were properly worked out so that the guys would be able to participate.

"Of course they always wanted to participate given the purpose of this game [is] to assist the tsunami victims in that terrible tragedy."

Many of the star players are slated to play in the two-match one-day series to be held in Australia and Asia to generate funds for the victims of the tsunami disaster that has killed over 150,000 people across 13 countries.

The second one-dayer is likely to be played in February in either India or Sri Lanka.