Yorkshire fast bowler Moin Ashraf is using Twitter to raise money for the children currently suffering in Gaza.

The Bradford-born fast bowler is auctioning off cricket memorabilia during the next month, starting with a Chennai Super Kings shirt given to him by Indian international batsman Suresh Raina at last month’s Champions League t20 tournament in South Africa.

Each item will be auctioned for five days on the website www.twitter.com/MoinA23, with the Raina shirt finishing at 6pm on Sunday.

“I’ve seen what’s happened on the news in Gaza, and it’s touched me,” explained 20-year-old Ashraf, who also plays for Lightcliffe in the JCT600 Bradford League.

“There are quite a few children who have been killed or lost parents, and it’s something that has become close to my heart.

“I feel obliged to stand up for the less fortunate and give something back to them. I’ve got no direct personal connections with Gaza, but Gaza and Palestine is the holy land for Muslims. So religious beliefs are part of it as well.

“As well as the Raina shirt, I’ve got my signed Champions League t20 shirt, a Ryan Sidebottom one-day shirt and a County Championship shirt signed by the promotion squad who were at Essex when we went up. Those are only a few of the things I’ve got. Each auction will last five days. For example, the Raina shirt started at 6pm on Wednesday and finishes at 6pm on Sunday.

“I’ll post who is leading the auction at the end of every day. I will also do big a countdown on Sunday. Hopefully the Raina shirt gets a lot of attention because he’s an established Indian international.”

Ashraf is also taking donations at the website www.justgiving.com/Moin-Ashraf Meanwhile, the 2013 county cricket fixtures will be released by the ECB at 2.30pm on Monday, the same day the Yorkshire squad return to pre-season training at Headingley.