England players pledge 50 percent match fee to Mumbai victims

Chennai, Dec 9 (PTI) In a heart-warming gesture, England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen and his teammates Tuesday decided to donate 50 percent of their match fees from the first Test match to the families of the victims of the recent Mumbai terror attacks.

England batsman Alastair Cook read out a statement by the
English cricket team in which the players pledged half of
their match fees for the families of the victims of the Mumbai
attacks.

"Following a very difficult period for the last two
weeks, the England cricket team would like to recognise the
following reasons for returning to India for the Test series.

"As an open and public statement of support for the
Indian people following the tragic events in Mumbai recently.

"To extend our sincerest sympathies to those families
that have lost loved ones in the Mumbai attacks.

"As cricketers, first and foremost to win a Test match
series against India," the statement read.

"Finally, the England players will donate half their
match fees from the first Test match to the families of those
victims of the Mumbai attacks," it added.

Earlier, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had pledged
match fees from both the Tests for a similar cause. PTI RE
PMR
NNNN