West Indies great to play in charity game aimed to fund relief efforts in Dominica
Lara to headline charity match
West Indies legend Brian Lara will be the headline act in a charity cricket match in Barbados next week that will help raise funds for recovery efforts in Dominica.
The tiny island nation was hit hard last month by Tropical Storm Erika, which killed 31 people and left hundreds of homes destroyed. Authorities estimate the damage from Erika at upwards of $US200 million ($A278.88 million).
Lara and fellow Caribbean heroes like footballer Dwight Yorke and sprint star Yohan Blake will take part in the match at Kensington Oval on September 26.
Each team will consist of six West Indies cricketers and five regional celebrities and the West Indies Cricket Board said all proceeds from the match will be donated to the Dominica Emergency Relief Fund.
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A file photo of a beach in Dominica // Getty Images
"Like most people in the Caribbean, we’ve all seen the devastating effect of these weather systems on Dominica, and we got together and tried to determine what we could do to assist,” said WICB president Whycliffe 'Dave' Cameron.
"West Indies cricket has brought the people of the Caribbean together like nothing else, so the WICB and our players are committed to doing our part to help in the face of disaster, as has occurred in Dominica.
"Using the power and contribution of cricket, so that the recovery efforts underway in Dominica can continue and life can steadily be restored to normal in the island is very crucial.”
Dominica, a mountainous and heavily forested island with a population of around 70,000 people, played host to the Australian cricket team in June.
The Australians beat the West Indies inside three days in the first Test at Windsor Park in the capital Roseau, while they also recorded a Test victory there back in 2012.
Several Australian players took time out during their visit this year to explore the island's beautiful forests, and also visited the country's famous natural springs.
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Josh Hazlewood at Trafalgar Falls during Australia's visit in June // Getty Images