Pakistan have dedicated a proportion of their match fees to victims of the floods which have devastated their country following an upset win over England in the third Test at The Oval on Saturday. The floods, which have affected a third of the country over the past three weeks, have killed at least 1,600 people and left over 40 lakh homeless.
Skipper Salman Butt told reporters his team had dedicated the victory to the flood victims. “We have already donated a percentage of our match fees,” he said. “This is the only way we can give back to the people if we perform well.”
England captain Andrew Strauss said his team would also donate a proportion of their match fees. “It’s a massive humanitarian catastrophe out there and we’re trying to help as much as we can and the more people who do that the better,” he said.
Played against a background of disaster back home, a security crisis which forces the team to play all their internationals abroad and familiar turmoil in the Pakistan camp, Saturday’s victory was quite significant.
Meanwhile, New Zealand have offered to play cricket matches against Pakistan to raise funds for those affected. Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said that New Zealand Cricket has expressed its willingness to play in the country.
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