Thaindian News

Mumbai, May 29 (IANS) The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) will organise charity cricket matches in Colombo between Indian celebrities and Sri Lankan cricketers to help rehabilitate former Tamil Tiger child soldiers.
The initiative is part of the IIFA Awards 2010 to be held June 3-5 in the Sri Lankan capital.

Actors Hrithik Roshan and Suniel Shetty would lead the two celebrity teams while Sri Lankan cricket captain Kumara Sangakkara would reprise his role.

“I am actually very delighted and very, very proud to be part of team IIFA. Colombo here we come,” said Hrithik at a IIFA press meet here Friday.

“It is indeed a great honour to play with the Sri Lankan cricketing greats and my friends in the fraternity. I support the initiative of ‘Cricket for Children’ and IIFA Hands for Humanity and hope to put in my best efforts as a captain of a team towards the noble cause,” he added.

The IIFA XIs will comprise actors Salman Khan and Dino Morea and ex-cricketers Vinod Kambli and Kiran More among others. Sangakkara’s team will include Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan and Mahila Jayawardene.

Suniel Shetty said: “I am very, very excited about the matches because I am very passionate about the sport.”

Why are the celebrities divided into two teams?

“Many celebrities showed interest to take part in the cricket match so we have divided them into two teams,” said Sabbas Joseph, Director Wizcraft International.

Kiran More told IANS: “It’s a great honour to be part of IIFA awards. Playing matches would be very interesting. I am going to Sri Lanka after a long time. Last I went there in 1993; we won the series that time. We haven’t won a series, so hopefully this time we will be able to win the people’s heart in Sri Lanka.”