MS Dhoni will feature in a charity Twenty20 (T20) match in London for the Help for Heroes foundation alongside Virender Sehwag, Shahid Afridi, Matthew Hayden, Brian Lara and other former cricketing legends.
The T20 match is scheduled to be played at the KIA Oval on 17 September. Dhoni confirmed his participation on Tuesday.
Help for Heroes will be taking on Rest of the World XI in this fundraising game. While Andrew Strauss will be leading the Help for Heroes side, Brendon McCullum will be the captain of Rest of the World.
"I am delighted to be joining so many cricketing superstars at the Kia Oval on Thursday September 17 and supporting such a worthy cause. I've always enjoyed playing cricket in England and I would urge all sports fans to support Help for Heroes on September 17 and watch some truly world class performers in action," Dhoni, India's ODI and T20 captain, said in an interview to Wisden India.
The Help for Heroes side will be managed by former England legend Ian Botham and Rest of the World by former India captain Sunil Gavaskar and South African coach Gary Kirsten. The fundraising match will be played prior to a T20 match between Help for Heroes Cricket Club and England Physical Disability Team.
Players like Mahela Jayawardene, Graeme Swann, Graeme Smith, Daniel Vettori, Herschelle Gibbs, Matthew Hoggard, Darren Gough, Scott Styris will be featuring in the match to help the foundation raise funds for the needy.
Here are the complete squads:
Help for Heroes XI: Andrew Strauss (C), Herschelle Gibbs, Virender Sehwag, MS Dhoni, Damien Martyn, Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Parker, Corporal Jake Wray, Shahid Afridi, Graeme Swann, Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard, Darren Gough.
Manager: Ian Botham. Coach: To be confirmed.
Rest of the World XI: Brendon McCullum (C), Matthew Hayden, Graeme Smith, Mahela Jayawardene, Major Storm Green, Brian Lara, Abdul Razzaq, Scott Styris, Dan Vettori, Tim Southee, Shapoor Zadran, (12th member to be confirmed).
Manager: Sunil Gavaskar. Coach: Gary Kirsten.
