LONDON, June 15: MCC announced on Tuesday it will host an extra fixture between Australia and Pakistan at Lord's on Sept 4. The One-day International will be a repeat of the World Cup final contested by the two sides at the home of cricket in 1999 which the Australians won by eight wickets.

The newly-arranged fixture will provide both teams with a chance to prepare for the ICC Champions Trophy which will be held in England from Sept 8 to 25. The two sides will also be taking part in a mini-tournament involving India in Amstelveen, near Amsterdam in Holland from Aug 21 to 30.

The Lord's fixture be the first of two major matches on successive days at the venue. England will face India in the final game of their three-match NatWest Challenge series on Sept 5.

MCC's Secretary and Chief Executive Roger Knight said: "We are delighted to be welcoming Australia and Pakistan, two world-class teams, to Lord's in September. "Australia will be keen to retain their reputation as the best team in the world while Pakistan will be desperate to avenge their defeat by the Australians in 1999's World Cup Final at Lord's.

"We were already expecting an exciting summer with our first Twenty20 match next month, and England due to play the West Indies in July and August and India in September. "For everyone at Lord's this extra fixture is set to make an outstanding summer even better."

Meanwhile, India have cancelled two one-day matches on their tour of England because of a busy playing schedule, the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Tuesday. The scrapped fixtures were scheduled to take place against Somerset at Taunton on Aug 26 and two days later against Leicestershire at Grace Road.

The Indian tour party will now arrive in England on Aug 29 prior to the NatWest Challenge. They will play three One-day Internationals against England at Trent Bridge on Sept 1, at The Oval on Sept 3 and at Lord's on Sept 5.

The Indians were also due to take part in a triangular series involving Australia and Pakistan in Amstelveen from Aug 21. They are also taking part in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka from July 16 to Aug 1. -AFP