Locks Heath Cricket Club will be playing the Falkland Islands in their first international game next month.
The teams will meet in a 40 over game on September 7 at the Locks Heath Sports and Social Club in Titchfield Common.
Locks Heath Cricket Club
Steve Fowmes, who is the Falkland Islands Cricket Association treasurer and who used to live in Warsash and Whiteley, contacted the Locks Heath club to organise the international friendly.
Chris Boyd, co-chairman of Locks Heath Cricket Club, said: “I think the junior side has played an international game before, but not the seniors. They’re all excited.
“I’m sure it will be a good chance for Steve to see old friends and for the two teams to play. The club feels privileged to be involved in this kind of game.”
The friendly game, which begins at 1pm, will be open to members of the public and refreshments and the bar will be available from mid-day.
Locks Heath’s third team will play the Falklands team and a buffet will be put on for members in the evening.
Steve Fowmes said: “Locks Heath Cricket Club are incredibly generous for agreeing to play and host us and for putting on a buffet. There is a lack of competition for us in the Falklands. The reason I chose Locks Heath was because it is close to where I used to live.
“All of our players are already in the UK for holiday or business, like me. So we’re taking advantage of that and arranged the match. We’re very much looking forward to it.”
Players from the Falkland Islands Cricket Association will be staying with friends and family or in nearby hotels while over for the match. Then the following day the team will be heading up to Berkshire to play Falklands Cricket Club. The Falklands team played internationally against teams in the Carribean in November.