Afghanistan will play their first ever game at Lords after being invited to play in a one day match against Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

The 50-over fixture will take place on Tuesday, July 11, the day after the conclusion of the England v South Africa test match, and will use the same pitch.

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

Brendon McCullum has been confirmed as the club captain for the game.

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 travelled to Jalalabad in May 2009 to oversee the first coaching camps held under the MCC Spirit of Cricket banner.

He said: “I am thrilled that we will be welcoming Afghanistan to Lord’s this summer. 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.

“We are delighted therefore that Brendon McCullum will captain MCC, as he will ensure the 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.”