WELLINGTON: New Zealand batsman Henry Nicholls will donate the shirt he wore in the heart-stopping final of last year’s World Cup in England to help raise funds for the battle against the Covid-19, media reports said on Thursday.

The 28-year-old will donate the half-sleeve shirt, signed by his teammates, to the local chapter of United Nations’ children’s fund UNICEF, the Stuff website reported.

“Everything that happened at the World Cup last year, that’s a pretty memorable experience,” Nicholls, New Zea­land’s top-scorer in that tied final which ended with England declared winners on boundary count, told the website.

“I thought I could put that shirt up as a bit of an incentive for people to donate.” Anyone who donates by Monday, irrespective of amount, will enter a draw and the owner will get the shirt.

“For me I wanted to go away from the auction sort of thing, where the highest bidder wins it,” the top order batsman said.

“I wanted to make it a bit more inclusive and anyone can donate five or 10 dollars and go into the draw to win it.

“It all adds up. A lot of families and everyone in New Zealand is really feeling the pinch. It’s a small little thing and hopefully it can make a big difference.” Earlier this month, England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler raised 65,100 pounds ($81,518) for two hospitals in London by auctioning the shirt he wore in the same final at Lord’s.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2020