A BRADFORD League cricketer has been selected for an MCC trip to Africa.

Simon Lambert of New Farnley is part of a 13-man squad currently playing an 11-day tour in Tanzania and Kenya.

It is the last of four overseas MCC trips that have taken place this year, following those to Mexico and Belize in March, Germany in June and China and Hong Kong in September and October.

The MCC will be playing three T20 matches and two 50-over matches at the UDSM (University of Dar el Salaam) Sports Ground at the former capital of Tanzania and its largest city.

The squad will then move over the border to Kenya, where they will face a Select XI at the Nairobi Club, before returning to the UK.

MCC's players will also hold various coaching sessions with local youngsters during the trip.

Tim Kirk, who has played over 100 times for MCC over the past two decades, is managing the tour, while playing-wise there is a mix of youth and experience in a squad captained by Mike Coles, who has skippered Wiltshire in the Minor Counties Championship.

Ruel Brathwaite, who has played county cricket for both Durham and Hampshire – as well as representing the West Indies – is also included.

Steven Clark, Robert Cross and James Hindson, formerly of Leicestershire, Lancashire and Nottinghamshire respectively, are also part of the squad.

James Dixon, who has represented England's deaf team since 2005, and former MCC young cricketer Scott McKechnie – head coach at Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong – are includedas well among a number of other playing members of MCC.

MCC's umpire for the trip is Roger Tolchard, who played Test and one-day international cricket for England in the 1970s.

Tanzania has a long association with cricket, dating back to 1890 when the game was first introduced to the region by British settlers.

The nation was granted associate membership of the International Cricket Council in 2001 and have since competed in the ICC World Cricket League. MCC last toured Tanzania in 2012.

MCC head of cricket John Stephenson said: "MCC are delighted to be able to support Tanzania Cricket's development and Simon is a member of a squad selected to provide challenging opposition for the matches in both Tanzania and Kenya.

"The trip completes another successful schedule of MCC overseas tours for this year with another group of playing members getting the chance to represent the club globally, while helping to grow the game in areas less associated with cricket."