Hugh raises money for tragedy

HUGH ROBERTSON TAKES PART IN CHARITY CRICKET MATCH TO RAISE MONEY FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS

Hugh Robertson has just returned from two weeks in India where he took part in a cricket match against the Indian Parliament to raise money for the victims of the tsunami. The match raised 42 laks rupees (about £52,500) from individual contributions from the British and Indian Parliamentarians and the main sponsor KPMG.

Hugh left on Boxing Day and arrived in Mumbai (Bombay) as part of a group invited by the World Cricket Academy which is based at the Cricket Club of India – the Indian Equivalent of the MCC. All the flight costs were met by the MPs.

The original purpose had been to launch The Lords and Commons Cricket India Scholarship. The idea of this is to help disadvantaged young Indians, with an aptitude for cricket, to buy kit and coaching to help them progress in the game. The fund, sponsored by Anglo Indian firms, currently stands at £20,000 and over 40 young players in Mumbai and Delhi have, so far, benefited.

However, following the tsunami, which happened whilst the party was airborne, a decision was made in consultation with Indian Government, the Foreign Office and the British High Commission in Delhi to play the game against the Indian Parliament for the relief fund. A total of 42 lak, about £52,500, was raised and appropriately the Indian Parliament won the game in the last over. The Indian Parliamentary team, which had to be selected from over 30 Indian Parliamentarians who arrived at the ground keen to play, featured 3 former Indian Test Match Cricketers – Navjot Sidhu, Kirti Azad and Chetan Chauon. The match was televised live on Indian television.

Hugh said: “The original purpose of the trip had been to raise money for disadvantaged young Indian cricketers. However, following the tsunami, it was clearly appropriate to focus on the victims of this appalling tragedy.

“The response to the cricket match against the Indian Parliament was amazing and I was delighted to play a small part in raising over £50,000 for the Indian Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.”