Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal have joined several other leading international cricketers in being confirmed for this year's Lord's bicentenary match, it was announced yesterday. Pakistan's Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal will also take part in the July 5 fixture which celebrates the 200th anniversary of the current Lord's ground in north-west London. All the three Asian stars confirmed Monday for the fixture have enjoyed previous success at Lord's.
The match will be between Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which owns Lord's, and a Rest of the World XI.
The MCC XI will be captained by India hero Sachin Tendulkar while the Rest of the World side will be led by Australia great Shane Warne.
Tamim has a coveted place on the Lord's honours board having, as a 21-year-old, made 103 in the second innings of the first Test against England in 2010 - the first century at the ground by a Bangladeshi batsman. That match, his only previous appearance at the ground, also saw Tamim make 55 in the first innings.
MCC president Mike Gatting, the former England captain, said, “It shows the standing of the club and this marvelous ground that players of the quality of Shahid, Saeed and Tamim want to come and be part of these celebrations,” he said.
Australia wicket-keeping great Adam Gilchrist, India's Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh, West Indies' mainstay Shivnarine Chanderpaul and New Zealand left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori are all due to play in the match as well.