BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Darren Sammy has urged fans to attend and give generously to the Dominica Emergency Relief Fund during the Twenty20 charity match to be played on Saturday here.
The all-rounder will line-up for the West Indies Cricket Board President’s Invitational XI against the University of the West Indies Vice Chancellor’s Invitational XI in the charity match, which begins at 7 pm (6 pm Jamaica Time) at the historic Kensington Oval.
Admission for the event – jointly hosted by the WICB and UWI – is US$10 for adults and US$5 for children under the age of 12, with all proceeds going directly to the Dominica Government to assist with recovery efforts in the island which suffered severe damage to property and loss of life from the passage of Tropical Storm Erika, and continued to be affected by heavy rainfall in the recent days.
“Dominica is like a second home to me,” said Sammy. “I have some great friends and fans there, and every time I go there, the people make me feel like I am one of theirs.
“There is so much love and affection and the folks there just love their cricket. I’m just happy to be able to give something back – to offer my time to play in this match as we try to restore the beauty of the Nature Isle and help them get back on their feet.”
The T20 World Cup winning captain added: “What has happened to that country, a country I love – the worst disaster in recent history in the Caribbean, so many people losing their lives, still more missing, and hundreds of Dominicans having to evacuate their homes – it’s heartbreaking, and it is a call to all of us in this region to work more closely with one other.”
“I have always dedicated my career to the people of the Caribbean, and it would be my privilege to be able to give back with my participation in this upcoming game. God willing, the game will be a great success.”
Each side is expected to field half-dozen current players from the West Indies team currently preparing for next month’s tour of Sri Lanka and a number of celebrity players.
West Indies legend Brian Lara, former Trinidad & Tobago and Manchester United football star Dwight Yorke and Jamaican Olympic medallist Yohan Blake are among the first celebrities to confirm their availability for the match.
New West Indies Women’s captain and world-leading allrounder Stafanie Taylor and teammate Deandra Dottin, as well as UWI Vice Chancellor, Professor Sir Hillary Beckles are also expected to make appearances during the match.