With Birmingham’s Investec Test match between England and Pakistan just six weeks away, Edgbaston Stadium has announced a cricket match that brings together fans of both teams.

Taking place on Wednesday 13 July – on the eve of the first Investec Test Match at Lord’s – England’s famous supporter group the Barmy Army and a team from the National Asian Cricket Council representing  Pakistan fans will compete for the Edgbaston Fans Trophy at Attock Cricket Club.

Neil Snowball, Chief Executive at Edgbaston Stadium, said: “Edgbaston has been working closely with both supporter groups for several years and with excitement building towards the start of the Investec Series, we wanted to give a greater profile to the fans.

“Sport is able to unite people from different cultures and beliefs from around the world. We’re thrilled to be the architects of this first competitive match between England and Pakistan fans and hope that this is something we can repeat for future series.”

Founded in 1994, the Barmy Army travel the world with the England cricket team and have regularly staged fixtures with Australia’s Fanatics supporters’ club ahead of Ashes Test Matches. This will be the first occasion that the team will have faced a Pakistan supporters’ team.

Paul Burnham, Founder and Managing Director of the Barmy Army, said: “We are really excited about this game and expect it to be a fun- packed evening of cricket and fundraising. Hopefully this will be the first of many such fixtures and we can start welcoming many more British Asians to  join the Barmy Army Supporters Club.”

The National Asian Cricket Council was created by the Club Cricket Conference to ensure that British Asian cricket has effective representation within the recreational game.

Gulfraz Riaz of the National Asian Cricket Council, said: “The National Asian Cricket Council are delighted to be playing the Barmy Army XI on the eve of the first Investec Test Match between England v Pakistan. The Barmy Army are an iconic touring and supporters club and we feel this is a fantastic opportunity to show case the passion British Asians have for the game too.

“Cricket embraces and promotes all that is great about integrating different communities on and off the pitch. We look forward to a well spirited match and I urge fans from all communities to come and support what promises to be a great day.”

The Edgbaston Fans Trophy T20 match will start at 6pm on Wednesday 13 July at Attock Cricket Club with entry completely free to spectators.

The third Investec Test Match between England and Pakistan takes place at Edgbaston from Wednesday 3 to Sunday 7 August, with tickets priced from £31 for adults and from £6 for under 16s. Please click here or call 0844 847 1902 to purchase.