Peace at the Crease charity cricket match with Tendulkar, Ponting, Lara at Adelaide Oval in doubt
It was billed as cricket’s version of Live Aid, with four legends of the game to play at Adelaide Oval — now it’s in doubt with no contracts signed and tensions rising.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Cricket legends in Adelaide for charity match at the Oval
- Check out the latest subscriber rewards you get as a subscriber
A flagship charity cricket match planned for Adelaide Oval is in doubt with players yet to sign contracts and diplomatic tensions rising.
The Advertiser last week revealed legendary quartet Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara and Muttiah Muralitharan as headlining Peace at the Crease, a Twenty20 blockbuster on December 5.
But The Advertiser understands player commitments for the match are yet to be inked and are just verbal agreements.
It comes as the state and federal governments raise serious concerns about the event.
Organisers invited political leaders from 53 Commonwealth countries without consulting the Federal Government.
Stream international cricket Live & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS including every Australian Test, ODI and T20I on home soil. Get your 14-day free trial >
Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland and South Australian Cricket Association CEO Keith Bradshaw are the main drivers.
Asked if it would go ahead, Mr Bradshaw said: “SACA is not in a position to provide confirmation or any further comment until certain arrangements have been finalised.’’
The State Government said it supported the concept.
“But given the complexities around delivering such a significant event within short time frames, further information was requested from the SACA before any decision could be made on the Government’s potential involvement,” a spokeswoman said.
“The Government is still awaiting a formal proposal.”
The game would raise money for victims of church bombings in Sri Lanka and the Christchurch mosque attack.
An event brochure dated October spruiks confirmed teams and official functions.
In the brochure, for which the online link was taken down on Sunday, Mr Bradshaw says he is “immensely proud” to host the game with the Commonwealth.
“Our Board recognises the importance of such an initiative to bring together the heads of the Commonwealth at our hallowed ground,” he writes.
Visits by foreign dignitaries involve significant protocol and security issues and costs for federal and state governments.
The brochure states that “security arrangements” will be in place. But the Foreign Affairs Department said the Federal Government had not been consulted by the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne has reportedly written to the Secretariat, asking that government heads not be invited.
The brochure bears the name of British developer Charles Rifkind.
The SACA has only six weeks before the event is due to be staged and will host a Test Match at Adelaide Oval in that period.