A star-studded charity cricket bash is scheduled to take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Saturday to aid Australian bushfire relief has been called off because torrential rain is expected on that day. The Australian legends, Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting were due to come out of retirement to lead the teams during the fundraiser match for victims of the blazes which began in September and have left at least 33 people dead and thousands of homes destroyed.

The game was scheduled as a curtain-raiser to the Twenty20 Big Bash League (BBL) final, but with the huge prediction of rains, the Cricket Australia (CA) said it would no longer be possible.

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Talking about the same, CA’s tweet on Saturday read: “Change of plans! To ensure the SCG is in the best possible condition for the BBL final, we’ve made the call to not go ahead with Saturday’s Bushfire Cricket Bash at the SCG.”

Change of plans! To ensure the SCG is in the best possible condition for the BBL09 Final, we’ve made the call to not go ahead with Saturday’s Bushfire Cricket Bash at the SCG.

We’ll keep you updated tomorrow as we work through different options for the weekend!

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) February 5, 2020

CA added that alternative options for the charity game were being considered, with 20,000 tickets sold within just 24 hours for the expected double-header. They have decided to move the match to Junction Oval on Sunday. 

Some important updates for The Big Appeal happening this weekend!

✅Bushfire Cricket Bash moved to Junction Oval on Sunday
✅Adam Gilchrist + Ricky Ponting named as captains
✅Sachin Tendulkar + Tim Paine named as coaches

READ MORE I https://t.co/kfNClO514d #BigAppeal pic.twitter.com/MExB9TExKc

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) February 6, 2020

International legends including Wasim Akram, Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, and Courtney Walsh were set to be involved, along with the likes of former Australia stars Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, and Justin Langer.

All match profits and funds would go to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund. The Sydney Sixers will face either the Melbourne Stars or Sydney Thunder in the BBL final, weather permitting.

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Players confirmed: Shane Warne (c), Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist, Alex Blackwell, Andrew Symonds, Brad Fittler, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Elyse Villani, Grace Harris, Justin Langer, Luke Hodge, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Phoebe Litchfield, Shane Watson, Yuvraj Singh, Wasim Akram, Brian Lara.

Coaches: Sachin Tendulkar, Courtney Walsh

Non-playing capacity: Steve Waugh, Mel Jones, Andrew Johns