The July 'Wisden Cricket Monthly' reported that all tickets, including a substantial number of half-price seats for children have been sold out. In all, the fund is expected to benefit to the tune of around one million pounds sterling.
MCC secretary Roger Knight was quoted as saying: ``We think we have assembled the best two teams ever brought together for a one-day match at Lord's''.
The two star-studded teams, led by former captains Michael Atherton and Sachin Tendulkar will compete for the W. G. Grace Trophy. The match takes place on July 18, the 150th birth anniversary of this great cricketer.
The MCC side led by Atherton will comprise Aamir Sohail, Shivanarine Chanderpaul, Mohammad Azharuddin, Saurav Ganguly, Brian McMilan, Ian Healy (wk), Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinatha, Allan Donald, Glenn McGrath.
The World XI team led by Tendulkar will consist of Saeed Anwar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Aravinda de Silva, Graeme Hick, Tom Moody, Andy flower (wk), Chris Cairns, Wasim Akram, Mushtaq Ahmed, Ian Bishop.
De Silva retains his number one spot in the WCM batting rankings for July ahead of Tendulkar, with Jayasuriya dropping two slots down to number seven.
David Shepherd and Srinivas Venkatraghavan along with Steve Dunne will be the umpires.