Help for Heroes benefit match will give Zadran a boost, says Lamb

Chair of Selectors Allan Lamb believes fast bowler Shapoor Zadran can only benefit from rubbing shoulders with some legends of the game at Cricket for Heroes on Thursday, 17th September. The popular Afghanistan paceman takes his place in a Rest of the World XI captained by Brendon McCullum which will play a Twenty20 challenge match at the Kia Oval against a Help for Heroes side led by Andrew Strauss.

New Zealand bowler Tim Southee, currently ranked the tenth best bowler in Test cricket, will lead a strong looking Rest of the World attack which includes Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, Kiwi spinner Dan Vettori and Zadran. The Help for Heroes bowling attack has a strong English flavour to it with Simon Jones, Matt Hoggard, Graeme Swann and Darren Gough all in the squad alongside Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi.

Afghan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran

Lamb, who selected two world class sides for the Twenty20 fundraising event, said: “This is a great opportunity for Shapoor and I’m delighted he’s taking part in Cricket for Heroes. It’s not every day you get to share a changing room with legends such as Graeme Smith, Brian Lara, Mahela Jayawardene and Matthew Hayden, and he will benefit enormously from this experience.

“Tim Southee is a top class bowler who performed impressively against England earlier this summer and Shapoor will learn a great deal from him, as well as the other bowlers in both line-ups. I would urge him to make the most of the occasion, take in as much information as possible from those around him, and make use of it the next time he plays for his country.”

•Tickets for Cricket for Heroes at the Kia Oval on Thursday, 17th September cost £20 for adults and £1 for under-16s. Proceeds will be donated to Help for Heroes. Tickets can be bought online at: www.cricketforheroes.com

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