Lara to lead World XI in tsunami aid match

The Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and spinner Harbhajan Singh have been drafted in as late replacements for Ramnaresh Sarwan and the injured Muttiah Muralitharan in today's tsunami appeal one-day match between the MCC and an International XI at Lord's.

The Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and spinner Harbhajan Singh have been drafted in as late replacements for Ramnaresh Sarwan and the injured Muttiah Muralitharan in today's tsunami appeal one-day match between the MCC and an International XI at Lord's.

The MCC hopes to raise more than £485,000 from gate receipts alone for the survivors of the 26 December tsunami.

West India's Brian Lara will captain the International XI, which includes Shane Warne, while New Zealand's Stephen Fleming will lead the MCC team.

"It is a very good cause and the entire cricket fraternity has come forward to support this effort," MCC's Indian spinner Anil Kumble said.

For Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya, the match will be more poignant since he and his country were closely affected by the disaster.