Afghanistan to face MCC in their maiden fixture at Lord's

Afghanistan will face MCC, captained by former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum, in their maiden fixture at Lord's this summer in a 50-over contest.

The match to be played on Tuesday, July 11, will be Afghanistan's first at the Home of Cricket, and will take place on the same wicket that would be used for first Test between England and South Africa, which is due to conclude on July 10.

Lord's, for the second time in the season, would be hosting a fixture between MCC and an associate nation.

A similar fixture last year saw MCC beaten by Nepal in front of a crowd of nearly 6,000 at Lord's.

MCC has a long association with cricket in Afghanistan and two of the Associate nation's star players, Mohammad Nabi and Hamid Hassan, were both part of the MCC Young Cricketers program.

MCC president Matthew Fleming is a driving force behind the club's work in Afghanistan and himself travelled to Jalalabad in May 2009 to oversee the first coaching camps held under the MCC Spirit of Cricket banner.

"I am thrilled that we will be welcoming Afghanistan to Lord's this summer," lords.org quoted Fleming as saying. "I have seen first-hand the talent and passion for cricket the nation has, and this fixture can only be a good thing for the ongoing development of Afghan cricket."

"It is the latest landmark on a very exciting journey for Afghan cricket, and MCC will need to field an extremely strong side in order to compete.

The MCC president further expressed delight over McCullum captaining the club, saying that the former New Zealand explosive batsman would make sure that match is both competitive and exciting, played in the very best spirit.

"The whole club looks forward to what we know will be a wonderful and historic day," he concluded.