Iceland’s cricket team will play their first international match at Hampton Hill Cricket Club.

The team chose the Bushy Park Venue as they loved the beautiful location of the venue.

They will play their first game against an MCC XI. The game will take place on Tuesday, July 24. It is free to enter for members of the public. Doors open at 12pm, with the match starting at 1pm. They will play a 40 over game.

Iceland made footballing history this summer when they became the smallest nation to play in a World Cup. Its national cricket team is made up of expats and refugees, is hoping to emulate them.

In a cruel twist of fate, the refugees who make up the team won’t be able to play in their first international tour because they cannot leave Iceland.

There are no cricket stadiums or pitches in Iceland, the two teams have been pictured playing outside parliament in Reykjavik.

The Iceland Cricket Board hopes to gain membership to the European Cricket Council and from there, ICC Affiliate status.

Before they can do this, they need to raise funds. To do this the cricket board have has launched a crowdfunding campaign. The page was shared on Reddit.com/r/Cricket/, who raised £2,000 to sponsor them for the next two years.

Secretary of the Iceland Cricket Board and tour organise, Kit Harris, spoke to Johnathon Agnew on Test Match Special, he spoke about the difficulties the Icelandic Cricket team face in becoming an associate member: “There are a number of boxes we have to tick to become an associate member. The most difficult ones are the number of teams and stadiums.

“We must be playing outside 11 aside cricket with eight clubs. We currently have 35 players so will need to increase the interest. Pitches will be the most difficult hurdle, we need to have at least two. This will be difficult as Iceland’s terrain makes it difficult to build pitches, with limited greenspace.

“We currently play on indoor and artificial pitches but are looking for somewhere to have non-artificial grass pitches. Apart from that we need to have one cricketing board and implement anti-doping, anti-corruption policies as well as programmes for women and children.”

Iceland’s starting XI will play four matches in England this month, the first of which will be against an MCC XI at Hampton Hill Cricket Club on Tuesday, July 24.