Cricket is currently played on a regional basis in the USA

They will take part in the Six Nations Challenge in the United Arab Emirates from 29 February to 6 March next year.

Canada, Holland, Namibia, Scotland and the UAE are the other teams competing, with the winners qualifying to play in the Champions Trophy next September.

The invitation is the latest indication of the ICC's desire to spread the game in the USA.

President Ehsan Mani is firmly behind plans to raise cricket's profile in the Northern American market.

"You can't truly have an international game based on 10 teams, you have to be expansionist and open up new markets," he has been quoted as saying.

The USA could be in contention to stage matches at the 2007 World Cup, although the bulk of the tournament will take place in the West Indies.

USA, ICC TROPHY 2001 Beat Ireland by six wickets Lost to Papua New Guinea by eight runs Lost to Denmark by 101 runs Beat Hong Kong by 49 runs Beat Bermuda by 57 runs Lost to UAE by seven wickets Lost to Scotland by five wickets Lost to Holland by 33 runs

But former captain Faoud Bacchus, who also played Test cricket for the West Indies, believes cricket has a long way to go to achieve mass popularity.

"The major problem with cricket in America is that it is not played in schools," he told the BBC Sport website in March.

"We have got to get school kids involved. If that happens, it gets carried into schools, then parents get involved and then sponsorship comes in and you can hire better coaches. Then there is no limit."

The winners of the Six Nations Challenge will play against world champions Australia and New Zealand in the Champions Trophy first round.