Two cricketers with Cumbrian connections could play alongside some of the best in the world in a new competition.

Former Carlisle Cricket Club sub-professional George Munsey and Whitehaven Cricket Club’s current professional Safyaan Sharif have been selected to represent the Glasgow Giants at the inaugural Euro T20 Slam.

The Scotland internationals are joined in their 17-man squad by former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, South African pace bowler Dale Steyn and England’s Ravi Bopara. The team will be coached by former South Africa star Lance Klusener.

Munsey played for Carlisle in their final two matches of last campaign, scoring 80 runs.

"All of us at Edenside are delighted to see George doing well and we will be keenly watching his progress at the tournament," said Carlisle secretary Mark Davidson.

"He has many friends from the times he played for us here and it’s great to see him performing so well."

Sharif, meanwhile, had scored 353 runs for Whitehaven this season and taken 23 wickets at an average of 21.09 before yesterday's match.

Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi, England one-day captain Eoin Morgan and New Zealand opener Martin Guptill are among some of the other names set to feature at the star-studded event.

With the matches due to be played in Edinburgh, Amsterdam and Dublin, the competition will run from August 30 until September 22.

Former India captain and coach Anil Kumble is one of the board members on the tournament’s advisory committee.