Shane Warne out of Bushfire Bash charity match ... unless someone with a private plane can help out

After the Bushfire Bash charity match changed venue, it meant the fixture’s biggest drawcard had to pull out of the event. But there is still one, unlikely solution that could see him still make it.

Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar during the Tsunami Appeal Cricket match at the MCG.

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Shane Warne has put out an SOS to anyone with a private plane who can step in and save his appearance at the Bushfire Bash, after rain saw it switched from a Saturday in Sydney to Sunday in Melbourne.

The charity match appeared to have lost its biggest name in the switch, with Warne forced to pull out of the rescheduled event at the Junction Oval.

Warne has a long existing commitment he couldn’t shift and his place as captain of one of the two teams is set to be taken by fellow Test legend Adam Gilchrist.

However, speaking on Fox Cricket and followed up with a tweet, Warne suggested a solution to his problem - that needs a wealthy knight in shining armour to come to his aid.

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(L-R) Shane Warne, Alex Blackwell and Ricky Ponting. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty

“Very sad & disappointed to be missing Sunday’s cricket bash game,” Warne wrote on social media.

“The reason being - I have an 8am commitment for the Mandela foundation and a walk in Capetown on Tuesday morning at 8am. No airlines can get me there in time.

“Happy to play if someone offers up there (sic) private plane?”

Should that appeal come to nothing, Gilchrist opposing Ricky Ponting as captain still packs plenty of punch and its understood internationals Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar and Wasim Akram are all certainties.

Adam Gilchrist (R) will replace Warne (C) as captain. Picture: AFP/Adrian Dennis

As revealed exclusively by News Corp, Cricket Australia made an 11th hour decision to move the celebrity fixture away from the SCG on Saturday due to the city’s dire weather forecast, and after more than 16 hours of frenzied meetings and logistic checks, a switch to Sunday in Melbourne will be confirmed on Friday.

Organisers have worked tirelessly to keep the charity game alive given the threat of Sydney’s big wet, but sadly the move has cost the Bushfire Bash one of the two captains and cricket’s No.1 entertainment magnet and it will now be played at a boutique suburban venue that holds just 3000 people.

The positive is the Australia v England women’s match on the same card on Sunday at Junction Oval in Melbourne.

Ps There is also some events Monday leading up to the big Mandela walk which is Tuesday 8am. Hence I need the private plane to make it on time Monday morning and not let anyone down ! I was really looking forward to the game too. Private plane anyone ?????????

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) February 6, 2020

Cricket Australia will offer refunds to Sydney punters who purchased tickets to Saturday’s BBL final at the SCG believing that the celebrity game was part of the package.

However it’s hoped fans will hold onto tickets given all proceeds are going to the bushfire appeal despite the game being moved to Melbourne.

It’s understood Warne had already pushed back a commitment in order to play on the Saturday in Sydney, and couldn’t make another shift.

Warne has been an immense figure throughout the bushfire appeal process, where he auctioned off his famous baggy green cap and raised $1 million for the Red Cross.

It’s possible as many as half a dozen of the headline talent may also be forced to pull out due to the venue change but organisers are adamant a host of massive names will still play a part - with Sachin Tendulkar already touched down in Australia.

Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar during the Tsunami Appeal Cricket match at the MCG.

Broadcasters Fox Cricket and Channel 7 earlier this week lobbied Cricket Australia to move both the charity match and the BBL final to Melbourne on the basis of the big wet set to engulf Sydney.

Cricket Australia knocked back the push, pointing to the fact 30,000 tickets had already been sold to the double-header at the SCG.

Now the match will take place on Sunday at Melbourne’s Junction Oval on the same card as an Australian women’s international against India.

The SCG would have preferred the bushfire bash to be pushed back to being a curtain raiser for one of Australia’s March ODIs against New Zealand at the SCG - but that was considered impossible.

The ground felt it would be appropriate for Sydney to host the match given the magnitude of damage suffered around NSW over the horror summer.

TEAMS:

Ponting XI: Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting (c), Elyse Villani, Brian Lara, Phoebe Litchfield, Brad Haddin (wk), Brett Lee, Wasim Akram, Dan Christian, Luke Hodge. Coach: Sachin Tendulkar

Gilchrist XI: Adam Gilchrist (c & wk), Shane Watson, Brad Hodge, Yuvraj Singh, Alex Blackwell, Andrew Symonds, Courtney Walsh, Nick Riewoldt, Peter Siddle, Fawad Ahmed (onemore to be announced).

Coach: Tim Paine

Originally published as Shane Warne out of Bushfire Bash charity match ... unless someone with a private plane can help out