World XI skipper Ricky Ponting won the toss on Monday and decided to bat in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) tsunami-appeal fund-raising match against an Asian XI.
Ponting is one of five Australians in the World XI, which also includes West Indies batsman Brian Lara and New Zealanders Stephen Fleming, Chris Cairns and Daniel Vettori.
Indian captain Sourav Ganguly is leading the Asian line-up, featuring six Indians; Sri Lankans Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas and Sanath Jayasiriya; and Pakistan’s Yousuf Youhana and Abdul Razzaq.
India’s Sachin Tendulkar is in the Asian squad as a fielder because an elbow problem means he can’t bat or bowl.
Bangladesh’s Alok Kapali was named 12th man for Asia, while West Indian Dwayne Bravo was listed as 12th man for the World XI.
Organisers said the Melbourne Cricket Ground was sold out, with an estimated 80 000 fans expected to fill the stadium for the limited-overs match.
The ICC is hoping to raise Aus$10-million (about R46-million) through ticket sales, sponsorship, the sale of television rights and associated TV fund-raising appeals.
A return match will be held in Asia next month or in March. — Sapa-AP
Line-ups:
Asian XI: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan (India), Sanath Jayasuriya, Chaminda Vaas, Kumar Sangakara, Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka), Abdul Razzaq, Yousuf Youhana (Pakistan) and Alok Kapali (Bangladesh).
World XI: Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne (Australia), Brian Lara, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo (West Indies), Stephen Fleming, Chris Cairns, Daniel Vettori (New Zealand) and Darren Gough (England).