SHOAIB Akhtar, the world's fastest bowler, is just one of a host of star names to take the field in Nottinghamshire's Weekend of Legends.

Shoaib Akhtar Photo Paul McGregor

Cricket fans will finally get the chance to see the Pakistani superstar in full flight at Trent Bridge in the Nottinghamshire Knights Invitation Match on Saturday June 30.

The teams for the game will be managed by former Nottinghamshire legends Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Richard Hadlee and will include many of the game's biggest names.

As well as Shoaib, South Africa's fearsome pace duo of Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald plus Pakistan's Abdur Razzaq will add to the seam attacks.

But there should also be plenty of runs with top-class openers Saeed Anwar and Gary Kirsten on show as well as some of the most destructive stroke-makers in the world including Lance Klusener, Shahid Afridi and Inzamam-ul-Haq.

The match - organised to raise funds for the Pavilion Appeal - will also be graced by Jonty Rhodes, arguably the greatest fielder in the modern game.

Trent Bridge Special Project Manager Barbara Quinn said: "We aimed to get players who appeared in the top 50 of the PricewaterhouseCoopers world one-day rankings and we have got them.

"Gary Kirsten and Inzamam-ul-Haq are listed among the top ten batsmen in the world while Shaun Pollock and Abdur Razzaq appear in the top ten ranked bowlers.

"All the players who have agreed to come cannot wait to take part in what promises to be a weekend cricket fans simply cannot afford to miss.

"With adult tickets costing no more than £20, we believe we have priced this world-class event at a level to encourage cricket fans from all over the country to come to Trent Bridge and with sales exceeding expectations, our advice is to book early."

After being cruelly robbed of the chance to play for Nottinghamshire last season by a serious rib injury, Shoaib jumped at the opportunity to turn out for the one-off invitation game.

He said: "I would like to thank Nottinghamshire for asking me to play in the match at Nottingham. It really is a great honour for me to be invited and I look forward to taking part."

The Weekend of Legends aims to raise £500,000 of the £2 million required to revamp the famous Victorian Pavilion.

The Hadlee v Sobers game on Saturday June 30 will be followed on Sunday July 1 by the England Masters v Australia Masters.

Adult tickets range from £15 to £20 with half-price reductions for children under 16 and adults over 60 and special rates for those attending both days.

Bookings can be made by calling the Ticket Office on 0870 168 8888 and further information is available from Trent Bridge on 0115 982 3000.

PLAYERS CONFIRMED SO FAR Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan) Ijaz Ahmed (Pakistan) Saeed Anwar (Pakistan) Daryll Cullinan (South Africa) Allan Donald (South Africa) Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) Aminul Islam (Bangladesh) Moin Khan (Pakistan) Gary Kirsten (South Africa) Lance Klusener (South Africa) Shaun Pollock (South Africa) Naimur Rahman (Bangladesh) Abdur Razzaq (Pakistan) Jonty Rhodes (South Africa) Phil Simmons (West Indies)

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