West Indies legend Brian Lara has signed on to play in the upcoming T20 Black Clash in New Zealand.

The 54-year-old, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history, will join Team Rugby for the match against Team Cricket at Mt Maunganui on January 20, 2024.

Lara's inclusion is a major coup for the organizers of the event, which is a charity match that pits former All Blacks players against former New Zealand cricketers. The T20 Black Clash is a charity match that raises money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation New Zealand.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of the T20 Black Clash," Lara said. "I've always been a fan of the All Blacks and New Zealand's rugby prowess, so it's an honor to be able to play alongside them."

Lara's batting record is simply staggering. He holds the record for the highest individual score in both Test and first-class cricket, with 400 and 501 runs respectively. He is also the only batsman to have scored 10,000 runs in both formats.

"Brian Lara is one of the greatest cricketers of all time," said event director Carlena Limmer. "He's a true legend of the game, and we're honored to have him playing in the T20 Black Clash."

Team Rugby will be looking to avenge their narrow loss to Team Cricket at Hagley Oval earlier this year. With Lara in their lineup, they will be confident of squaring the series at 3-3.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing against some of the best rugby players in New Zealand," he said. "It's going to be a lot of fun, and I'm sure it will be a great event for the fans."

Lara is no stranger to the T20 format. He played in the inaugural Caribbean Premier League in 2013, and he also played in the Bangladesh Premier League in 2016.

"I think the T20 format is a great way to showcase the skills of both batsmen and bowlers," he said. "It's a very exciting game, and I'm sure the fans in New Zealand are going to love it. We have a very good team, and we're all motivated to win," he said. "I'm sure we'll give Team Cricket a good run for their money."