Buttler to auction World Cup final shirt for coronavirus fight

LONDON: England’s batsman Jos Buttler has said he will auction the shirt worn during the 2019 World Cup final victory to raise funds for efforts to fight the coronavirus.

In a video posted on Twitter, Buttler confirmed the shirt would be signed by all the players from England’s World Cup squad. “I’m going to be auctioning my World Cup Final shirt to raise funds for the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals charity. Last week they launched an emergency appeal to provide lifesaving equipment to help those affected during the COVID-19 outbreak.”

“As we all know, hospitals, doctors, nurses and the NHS are all doing quite an incredible job at the moment,” said Buttler. “And in the weeks and months to come they are going to need our support even more.”

I’m going to be auctioning my World Cup Final shirt to raise funds for the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals charity. Last week they launched an emergency appeal to provide life saving equipment to help those affected during the Covid-19 outbreak. Link to auction in my bio. pic.twitter.com/ODN9JY4pk1

— Jos Buttler (@josbuttler) March 31, 2020

On July 14 last year, England had managed to beat New Zealand at the iconic Lord’s stadium to clinch their first-ever men’s 50-over World Cup title. Buttler was instrumental in the thrilling victory, scoring a half-century and then dislodging the stumps to run out Martin Guptill off the final ball of the super over.

The 29-year-old has placed the shirt on the auction website eBay and all the funds raised will go to the Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals’ charity.

Earlier, England Test captain Joe Root wrote an open letter to the British public stressing on the importance of teamwork as a society in their fight to defeat the coronavirus pandemic which has swept the world off its feet.

“Social distancing may mean that we can’t come together in a physical sense, but our strength lies in our communities coming together to help one another,” he said.