MELBOURNE, Jan 3: West Indies captain Brian Lara was given the official all-clear to play for the Rest of the World against an Asian XI in a tsunami relief cricket match here on Jan 10.

Lara, along with team-mates Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo, was given the go-ahead by team management which was originally hesitant to let all three players because of the potential injury risk on the squad of 14 players.

The West Indians are here to play in a triangular one-day series against Australia and Pakistan in January and February. But a West Indies team spokesman said on Monday coach Bennett King and manager Tony Howard had agreed to batsmen Lara and Gayle and all-rounder Bravo playing in the Melbourne Cricket Ground charity match. -AFP