Government cricket charity pledge included in $68m package

It must have been excruciating for cricket purists but yesterday's brief charity match in Hamilton was a lucrative day for tsunami victims - or was it?

On talkback radio yesterday, the Government's contribution to the Cricket Tsunami Relief Fund came under fire on the grounds that the money it pledged per run was cash that would be contributed anyway under its $68 million relief package..

That's was just not cricket, callers said, because the charity game funds meant other deserving causes would get less from the aid pot.

The office of Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Phil Goff was unimpressed at suggestions that the Government had backtracked on any pledges by including the cricket sponsorship in the $68 million.

A spokesman said when Prime Minister Helen Clark had announced the Government's total package she had made it clear it included all previous Government pledges, including the cricket.

The Government pledged $20 for every run, $1000 per four and $5000 per six.

After the series with the World X1 ended in Hamilton yesterday with an extra hastily arranged 10-over game, Mr Goff said that the Government would kick in $333,000 to New Zealand Cricket's relief fund.

With donations, auctions, other sponsorships including a $3000-a-catch bonus and a dash-for-cash featuring recently retired but still beige lycra-clad Black Cap Mark Richardson, the total amount raised was expected to be about $1,088,000.

The money will be distributed between a Sri Lankan Cricket relief agency and World Vision.