England donate £15,000

Michael Vaughan played at Galle just a year ago © Getty Images

The England team have pledged £15,000 to the disaster-relief funds of the tsunami and earthquake victims in South-East Asia. The move follows Australia's donation of their prize money from the Melbourne Test on Wednesday.

England were in Sri Lanka in November and December 2003, and many of current squad took part in the Test at Galle, in the south-west of the country, a ground that has been devastated by the tidal waves.

Michael Vaughan, England's captain, said: "The England team feels strongly that the international cricket community should offer as much support as possible to those countries affected by the devastation in South Asia. Many of us have played in and visited that part of the world, and we simply cannot comprehend the carnage and sadness reported day after day in places we know well. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to all those affected by the events earlier this week and the team is happy to make a direct contribution to the relief fund."

Cricketers around the world have been in communication through the Federation of International Cricketers' Association (FICA), and are proposing that they, together with the ICC, pool their resources to develop a significant fundraising opportunity, such as a one-off match between Asia and the rest of the world.

The Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA), a member of FICA, will add a further £5000 donation, increasing the contribution from professional cricketers in England to £20,000.

Richard Bevan, the chief executive of the PCA group, said: "International cricket is a small and tight-knit community and many of our members have friends, colleagues and relatives in the areas affected by the tsunami earlier this week. In addition to the contributions made by the England players and the PCA itself, we will continue to work with FICA and our counterparts around the world to use cricket to raise awareness and funds."

There will also be a raffle for signed shirts of the players during the third Test against England at Cape Town that starts this Sunday, with the proceeds going to victims of the earthquake and tsunami disaster.

Gerald Majola, the chief executive of the South African board, said: "Our deepest sympathies and condolences go to all those affected by the disaster across the entire region. Obviously we have close links with a number of the countries badly affected. Our team played in Galle in Sri Lanka in July, and was in India in November." The board itself will make a donation, and the match sponsors, MTN, together with Cricket South Africa, pledged to hand over the money made from the CSA Cricket Hotline number.