Indian ODI skipper MS Dhoni has joined the list of superstar cricketers who will be playing the T20 match between Help for Heroes XI and Rest of the World XI on September 17 at Kia Oval in London, England.
The fundraiser is being held to recognise the contribution of soldiers who were wounded in the line of duty.
Dhoni, who was busy undergoing training at the Paratroopers Training School in Agra , will join his former teammate Virender Sehwag, Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi in Help for Heroes XI, captained by former England batsman Andrew Strauss. The team will be managed by England great Ian Botham.
According to a report published in kiaoval.com, Dhoni and his men will take on the game's big names like Brendon McCullum, Matthew Hayden, Graeme Smith, Mahela Jayawardene and Brian Lara who will play in the Rest of the World XI squad. Former India batsman Sunil Gavaskar is to manage the Rest of the World team.
Looking ahead to Cricket for Heroes, Dhoni said: "I am delighted to be joining so many cricketing superstars at the Kia Oval on Thursday September 17 and supporting such a worthy cause.
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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.
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- Dhoni added.
With some legendary names involved, the contest between the two teams will prove to be one of the biggest exhibition matches the cricket fraternity has ever seen.
The game will be preceded by a T20 match between the incredible Help for Heroes Cricket Club and the England Physical Disability Team.
Dhoni will join fellow Indian star Virender Sehwag, Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi, ex-South Africa ace Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Swann and Darren Gough in the Strauss-led Help for Heroes XI.
The Rest of the World XI will contain, amongst others, McCullum, Lara, Matthew Hayden, Mahela Jayawardene, Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori and Tim Southee, and will be managed by the great Indian Sunil Gavaskar and Gary Kirsten.
Styris is looking forward to teaming with some of his former New Zealand team-mates on Thursday - but predicts he may see a different side to paceman Southee.
"It's going to be great to get back out there with all those guys [I played with] and see how they operate again," said Styris.
"Southee is very quick-witted and tends to dominate every changing room - though with the big names floating around in this match he might just be sat in the corner quietly!"