The Australian cricket establishment has joined the worldwide efforts to provide relief to Gujarat earthquake victims with the Cricket Board donating $10,000 Aus (about Rs 2.7 lakh) to kickstart a campaign seeking to raise $1 million Aus (about Rs 2.7 crore).

The ACB and the Australian team have thrown their weight behind World Vision relief effort with tomorrow's second of the best-of-three finals of the Carlton triangular one-day series against West Indies in Melbourne being the focus of their assistance.

During the telecast of tomorrow's game, the Channel Nine commentary team will inform viewers about the tragedy in India and encourage people to donate to the World Vision programme through its telephone call centre.

"The Board and the players want to demonstrate in a practical way our support for the people of India - another cricket loving country and our sister nation in the Commonwealth," ACB chairman Denis Rogers said today while handing over the cheque for $10,000 Aus to World Vision.

"We are hoping that by focusing the spotlight on the earthquake victims this week, we can enlist the practical support of cricket followers across Australia," he said.

"World Vision is seeking to raise up to $1 million Aus in Australia for its relief efforts and I would hope that with this donation and the promotion of the campaign through the second Carlton Series final, cricket can play a key role in helping achieve this target."

Australian fast bowlers Damien Fleming and Glenn McGrath also joined Rogers and World Vision CEO Lynn Arnold in launching the campaign. Fleming said the entire Australian team was united in support of the initiative.

"When you realise the scale of the tragedy, with 50,000 people feared killed and 200,000 homeless, it puts the game of cricket into perspective," he said. "If Australian cricket is able to assist in some way through this initiative, then it is well worth the effort."

The ACB had earlier brushed aside suggestions of playing an extra one-day match on the Indian tour in benefit of the quake victims, saying they will find other means to support the relief efforts.

"There is enormous need in Gujarat for emergency supplies for those who have lost their homes, their possessions and their livelihoods," Arnold said. "Then the long-term recovery phase will also require large-scale funding from the global community. Funds will provide food, drinking water and shelter for homeless families in and around Bhuj, the hardest hit city, and to rebuild houses for the hundreds of thousands homeless," he added.

© PTI