The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has recently announced the squad for its upcoming tour to Pakistan. The team will play a series of matches in Lahore and the MCC President and former Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara have been appointed as the captain of the side.

The tour will give a major boost to the Pakistan cricket which has seen international cricket returning to the country after a decade. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have already played the series there whereas they are ready to host the Asia Cup as well. The MCC team will also feature two PSL teams – Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans and the games will be played in the T20 format.

Moreover, they will also face Pakistan’s domestic T20 champions, Northern. The squad features the likes of Ravi Bopara, Warwickshire’s Michael Burgess, Oliver Hannon-Dalby and Will Rhodes, whereas Roelof van der Merwe and Fred Klaassen will play for Somerset. Scotland players Michael Leask and Safyaan Sharif, Leicestershire’s Arron Lilley, Kent’s Imran Qayyum and Worcestershire’s Ross Whiteley complete the main squad here.

John Stephenson, MCC Assistant Secretary (Cricket) recently shared the objective of this tour. “We are thrilled to be able to name a strong squad for this tour, which blends youth and experience for a strong side of high quality.”

“We have really appreciated the collaborative approach from the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Pakistan Super League, which has enabled us to arrange fixtures against sides preparing for this year’s PSL tournament as well as to secure the services of some of those participating,” he was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

MCC Squad for Pakistan tour: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Ravi Bopara, Michael Burgess, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Fred Klaassen, Michael Leask, Arron Lilley, Imran Qayyum, Will Rhodes, Safyaan Sharif, Roelof van der Merwe, Ross Whiteley.