This match will provide the curtain-raiser to the four-nation Singer World Series which takes place from August 26 - September 7.
The benefit match arranged by the Gamini Dissanayake Foundation and sponsored by Singer (Sri Lanka) Ltd., will see some of the leading cricketers of the world from seven Test-playing countries representing the World XI team.
Azharuddin's elevation to the captaincy was made possible by the withdrawal of Australian captain Mark Taylor from the Singer World Series. Taylor was originally picked to lead the World XI, but pulled out because of a back injury which requires early surgery.
Azharuddin, who was replaced by Sachin Tendulkar as India's captain for the tournament, will have three Indians in the World team - Tendulkar, Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble.
The Australians are also well represented with wicket-keeper Ian Healy, who is expected to take over the captaincy in Taylor's absence and the Waugh brothers, Steve and Mark.
Zimbabwe, the third team in the tournament will have Andy Flower and Heath Streak. West Indies (Ian Bishop), Pakistan (Abdul Qadir), New Zealand (Roger Twose) and South Africa (Meyrick Pringle) will have one each.
While each of the 13 players representing the World XI will be paid a substantial fee, the Sri Lanka players have agreed to forego such payments to them in appreciation of the late Cricket Board president Gamini Dissanayake, whose dynamism provided the stepping stone for the advancement of Sri Lanka cricket after it was elevated to Test status in 1981.
Gamini Dissanayake Foundation chairperson Srima Dissanayake addressing a press conference at the Cricket Board headquarters on Wednesday said the proceeds from the match would go the foundation to educate students at the vocational training centre in Kandy, central province.
Currently there are 60.
``I hope this match will pave the way for benefit matches for Sri Lanka cricketers in the future. This type of game should be a regular feature for the future in terms of benefit to be played for our Sri Lankan players, who have done a lot to cricket,'' said Nuski Mohamed, the chief organiser of the benefit match.
``As much as our players go and play at numerous benefit matches of other players, our clubs with the assistance of the Cricket Board should get involved in having benefit games for our Test players,'' said Mohamed.
``If you want to professionalise cricket, matches of this nature should form part of that structure,'' he said.