GALLE, SRI LANKA - JULY 01: Alex Carey of Australia celebrates with Steven Smith and David Warner after dismissing Dimuth Karunaratne of Sri Lanka during day three of the First Test in the series between Sri Lanka and Australia at Galle International Stadium on July 01, 2022 in Galle, Sri Lanka. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)
The Australian men's cricket team have decided to donate their entire pool of prize money from the recently completed Sri Lankan tour to the nation.
Sri Lanka is currently in the midst of political and economical turmoil, with the tour of Sri Lanka - which saw matches in all three formats - under question until just weeks before it commenced.
A fuel shortage also brought doubt over the ability to travel or play cricket at night.
The tour would ultimately go off without a problem though despite peaceful protests around the nation and despite the current restrictions on Sri Lankan citizens, who are limited in travel and economic ability at the present time.
Charities and aid organisations are on the ground in the island nation, and it has now been revealed that the Australian team's $45,000 Australian dollars in prize money will be donated to UNICEF to aid that effort.
Test captain Pat Cummins is a UNICEF ambassador and told cricket.com.au that it was an easy decision for the team - both Test and limited overs - to donate.
"It was very clear to us how much day-to-day life for Sri Lankans is being impacted," Cummins said.
"When the team saw what was happening it was an easy decision to donate our prize money to UNICEF, who have been in Sri Lanka for more than 50 years supporting the needs of children and families."
It was said during the tour that the cricket brought a much-needed distraction to struggling Sri Lankan families, with the country seemingly no closer to exiting the grips of the turmoil it currently finds itself in.
Australia tied the Test series in the nation, lost the ODI series 3-2 and managed to claim a 2-1 win in the T20 series.
Sri Lanka have since hosted Pakistan in two Test matches successfully, with the nation now set to compete in the Asian Cup from August 28. Thatg tournament has been moved from Sri Lanka to the United Arab Emirates.