Rashid, Shakib and Tamim join World XI to face West Indies

LONDON (Agencies): Afghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan, the No. 1 ranked T20I bowler, has been added to the World XI squad that will take on West Indies in a one-off T20I at Lord’s on May 31. The match is being organised to raise funds for the reconstruction of stadiums that were damaged in the Caribbean last year by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Rashid’s participation, along with the Bangladesh pair of Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, was confirmed by the ICC on Monday. The trio joins Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik, and Sri Lanka allrounder Thisara Perera. The team is being led by the England limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan.

Tamim, whose only international appearance at Lord’s came in 2010, when he struck a fifty and century in a Test against England, said: “I am delighted to have been chosen to once again represent the ICC World XI for a cause which will only make cricket a bigger and better sport. The West Indies’ contribution to the global game is unmatched and unparalleled, and if the cricket fraternity can get together to play a small role in the rebuilding of their damaged venues following last year’s hurricanes, then this is a very small price with hugely positive results.”

The West Indies squad is led by Carlos Brathwaite, and includes players such as Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels and Samuel Badree. The match will also mark the international return of Andre Russell following a year-long ban for a doping-code violation. More names are expected to be added to the World XI squad in the coming days.