Northampton Saints will swap oval balls for cricket bats next week when they take on a team of Sri Lankan legends in a charity fundraising match during their preseason tour of the South Asian country.
An international collaboration between Saints and Asia Pacific Lions Rugby was announced in May, with the men in Black, Green and Gold set to spend eight days in Sri Lanka as part of their preparations for the new season.
The tour – delivered by SC Global Consultancy – will culminate in a rugby fixture against the Asia Pacific Lions on Friday 28 August at Colombo’s Racecourse International Stadium.
Before then, however, a selection of Saints players – including Alex Coles, Henry Pollock, Tommy Freeman, George Hendy, Fraser Dingwall, and Fin Smith – will showcase their cricketing skills. On Monday 24 August, they will join forces with their Asia Pacific Lions counterparts to take on a star-studded side of Sri Lankan cricketing greats at Thurstan College Grounds in Colombo.
The match, which begins at 2.30pm local time, will raise funds for the Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation (LAF), Sri Lanka’s first and only organisation dedicated to supporting people living with dementia and cognitive impairment.
Supporters wishing to contribute can CLICK HERE. Northampton Saints are collecting donations on LAF’s behalf, with all funds raised (less any applicable payment processing and transfer fees) being passed on to the charity following the tour.
A strong crowd is expected for the occasion, with the Sri Lankan side featuring several members of the team that delivered one of the country’s proudest sporting achievements by winning the 1996 Cricket World Cup.
Headlining the line-up is Aravinda de Silva, the player of the match in Sri Lanka’s famous final victory over Australia after scoring an unbeaten 107 and taking three wickets. He will be joined by fellow World Cup winners Chaminda Vaas, Hashan Tillakaratne and Upul Chandana. Also confirmed is Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka’s second-highest run-scorer across all international formats and one of the most celebrated batters in the nation’s cricketing history.
The two line-ups will be captained by two respective World Cup winners in David Campese (rugby) and Arjuna Ranatunga (Sri Lankan cricket legends).
Sam Vesty, Saints’ Head Coach, said: “This tour is all about building connections through sport, and we’re very proud that this event will help support the fantastic work of the Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation.
“We have some talented cricketers and plenty of fans of the game within our squad, so the chance to take to the field alongside the Asia Pacific Lions and face a team packed with Sri Lankan cricketing legends is something everyone is looking forward to.
“While there will be plenty of competitive spirit on show, the most important thing is raising awareness and funds for a charity that makes a genuine difference to the lives of people living with Alzheimer’s, as well as their families and carers.
“We’re grateful to everyone supporting the event, whether by attending, watching online or making a donation, and hopefully together we can make a meaningful contribution to a very worthy cause.”
The Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation has spent more than two decades supporting people living with dementia and cognitive impairment across Sri Lanka.
Born from a promise made in 1999 and formally established in 2001, the charity has become a nationally recognised organisation, delivering free memory-screening clinics, providing cognitive stimulation therapy, supporting caregivers and raising awareness of dementia across the country.
Registered with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Social Services, the Foundation operates a dedicated Service and Activity Centre in Colombo and maintains a long-standing membership with Alzheimer’s Disease International, helping to connect local communities with global expertise.
Aravinda de Silva, 1996 Cricket World Cup winner with Sri Lanka, said: “Every three seconds, someone in the world develops dementia. The Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation is the only organisation dedicated to this fight in Sri Lanka.
“Alzheimer’s is not only challenging for those living with the disease, but also for their loved ones and carers. The Foundation’s activity centre is run entirely through the dedication of volunteers, and I have seen first-hand how its music, dance and therapeutic programmes can bring joy back into people’s lives.
“The Foundation relies heavily on community support to continue providing these vital services. That is why the Sri Lankan cricket legends, many of us from the 1996 World Cup-winning team, are delighted to come together and take on Northampton Saints in this charity T20 match on 24 August in Colombo.
“We hope this unique occasion will raise both awareness and much-needed funds for a truly worthy cause. Thank you to everyone who is able to support the Foundation and its important work.”
Saints supporters will be able to follow the match live via the Asia Pacific Lions YouTube channel, with play getting under way at 10.00am (UK time) on Monday 24 August.