IOC vows US$1m for victims

IOC vows US$1m for victims

Agencies, London

The International Olympic Committee will donate US$1 million to aid victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami.

The devastating tidal wave was triggered by an earthquake off Indonesia on Dec. 26 and killed at least 150,000.

One million people have been rendered homeless and at least five million are without basic needs to survive. The IOC made its announcement on its website.

In Karachi, Pakistan's cricket team has donated 25 percent of their match fees from the Sydney test match against Australia to aid the tsunami victims.

"The players donation will go to the relief fund set up by the president (Pervez Musharraf)," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director Abbas Zaidi said on Tuesday, the third day of Pakistan's third and final test against Australia in Sydney.

Pakistan's players are paid test fees according to a seniority system, ranging from 60,000 rupees ($1,000) to 250,000 ($4,200). Zaidi also said all board employees would donate one day's salary towards the relief fund.

"We will also be organizing a charity match between the Pakistan team and the Rest of Pakistan in February and proceeds from sponsorship, gate money etc would go to the fund," Zaidi said.

A 50-over charity match between a World XI and an Asian XI will take place on Jan. 10 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before a second match to be played in Asia in either February or March.

Nearly 20,000 tickets have been sold for the fund-raising cricket one-day game.

Tickets went on sale on Tuesday, with organizers delighted at the overwhelming early response shown by Australian cricket fans.

"To sell almost 20,000 tickets in half a day is a fantastic result and augurs well for creating a strong atmosphere at the fund-raising game on Monday," International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed said in a statement.

"It is a tremendous reflection of the strength of the international cricket community - fans and organizers - to come together to support the Tsunami Appeal."