ICC supports UNICEF’S COVID-19 relief efforts in South Asia

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has launched a fundraising campaign through its Cricket for Good initiative in order to provide support for UNICEF’s emergency COVID-19 response in South Africa. The campaign was launched at the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) final. It will be played in Southampton from June 18 to June 22nd, 2021 in Southampton. The COVID-19 has had a terrible impact on South Asia. It is home to nearly 2 billion people and more than a quarter of the world’s children. The deadly virus has resulted in 30 million cases and over 4,00,000 deaths in the region.

“The sheer speed and scale of infection across South Asia has been alarming, and fragile health systems have been pushed to the brink. UNICEF is on the ground with partners to deliver lifesaving support and ensure essential health services for children and women continue operating. ICC’s Cricket for Good initiative will allow us to raise vital funds to continue delivering lifesaving supplies and services to children and families in South Asia,” said George Laryea-Adjei, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia.

Geoff Allardice, the Acting CEO of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has termed devastation caused due to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Asia as heart-breaking.

“The devastation that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused in South Asia has been heart breaking with vulnerable children among the most affected. By partnering with UNICEF to support their COVID 19 relief work, we can use the global platform provided by the inaugural World Test Championship Final to raise urgent funds that can make a real difference. We appeal to cricket fans around the world to come together to show their support for the work of UNICEF at such a difficult time and donate to such a worthwhile cause.” he stated.

COVID has had a deadly impact on children with many falling ill more frequently than before. Parents and caregivers have been lost to the virus, with many left vulnerable and without parental care. The education of children has further been affected badly due to lockdowns and the closure of schools. UNICEF works closely with governments and partners in the region reaching families with information and technical support on health, child protection and education, water, sanitation, and hygiene as well as support in vaccine rollout, as part of its COVID-19 response.

WTC final holds key

In-game commentary will also reach out to audiences for their support. The upcoming final of the maiden edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) between India and New Zealand, will certainly play a key role in spreading the word in this regard.

Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has expressed a desire to treat the game as just another match.

“We just want to take this as just another game, play it as just another game. What is important for us is to start well, we know New Zealand are a very good team. We don’t want to take them lightly and as a team, we have been doing so well and we just want to continue what we’ve been doing over the last two years, play one day, one session at a time. Our planning, our strategies will be completely different from when we last played against England here in Southampton [in 2018], the plan was different that time,” he said as quoted by ICC.