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Clive Lloyd calls for disaster-relief fund

The former West Indies captain, Clive Lloyd, who lost two close friends in the recent earthquake disaster in South Asia, has appealed to the International Cricket Council to set up a disaster relief fund

Cricinfo staff
28-Dec-2004


Clive Lloyd: 'As sportspeople we should make a concerted effort to contribute' © Getty Images
Clive Lloyd, who lost two close friends in the recent earthquake disaster in South Asia, has appealed to the International Cricket Council to set up a disaster-relief fund, to enable the sport to contribute in the event of future catastrophes striking their member nations.
Lloyd, the former West Indies captain, is currently in Durban, where he is acting as match referee for England's Test against South Africa, and on Monday both teams took the field wearing black armbands as a mark of respect for those affected. The total death toll is estimated to be in excess of 20,000 - including 13,000 in the worst-hit country, Sri Lanka, where Lloyd's friends were staying before their hotel was demolished by the tsunami.
"It is an idea that the ICC might like to take on board," said Lloyd, who had discussed the plan with Colin Cowdrey during his stint as chairman in the early 1990s. "Through television rights, sponsorship and advertising revenue, there is a lot of money in the game of cricket, and as sportspeople we should make a concerted effort to contribute."
As a West Indian, Lloyd has been only too well aware of the power of nature this year. Four months ago, Hurricane Ivan devastated large swathes of the Caribbean, including the tiny island of Grenada, where more than 30 people were killed and thousands of buildings were flattened, including the national cricket stadium. Over 5000 people were forced into temporary shelters as a result, and after their uplifting victory in the subsequent Champions Trophy, Brian Lara's West Indians dedicated their victory to the dead, and pledged financial support as well.
The displacement caused by the earthquake is hundreds of times more extreme, however, with millions of Sri Lankans thought to have been made homeless, along with countless others from the east coast of India and Indonesia. "You never know when these disasters will strike," added Lloyd, "but the cricket community should be able to help. These people are destitute."
Lloyd's plan would involve a small donation every year, perhaps 2% or 3% of advertising revenue from around the world, and he hoped that a proportion of the gate receipts from the current Boxing Day matches would be given to help the relief effort. "If we could dedicate one or two games a year to raising money for the cause, it could help a hell of a lot."
The ICC has already indicated it is willing to give assistance to the devastated communities. "Sport will be the last thing on the minds of those affected by the earthquake," said the president, Ehsan Mani, "but over the coming days we will be speaking to the sporting authorities from Sri Lanka and India - two of our full member countries - to find out how we can help the relief efforts."
"On behalf of the ICC, I pass on our deepest sympathy to the people of the region whose lives have been devastated by the earthquake," added Mani. "It will have a tragic impact on millions of lives."