India A to host New Zealand in August-September; Australia could tour in November - Report
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India A last turned out in South Africa the previous winter, following a lengthy gap during the Covid-19 pandemic.
India A will return to the field with a home series against New Zealand in August-September as BCCI look to revive the 'A' team programme at the heels of the Covid-19 pandemic.
ESPNcricinfo reported, India A will take on New Zealand A in a series of three four-day games and three List A encounters. The matches are likely to be held in Bangalore.
New Zealand A are expected to reach India near the end of August and get on their month-long tour, which will be supervised on the Indian front by the great VVS Laxman, who is now the NCA head, alongside coaches Sairaj Bahutule and Sitanshu Kotak.
The four-day leg of the Kiwi visit could feature a pink-ball game, an idea the BCCI is contemplating, keeping in mind India have been playing at least one of their home Tests per season in the D/N format since their inaugural fixture against Bangladesh in November 2019.
Notably, when New Zealand A last toured India in 2017-18, one of their first-class games against India was also a pink-ball fixture. But it was played as a day game in Vijayawada.
If the BCCI gives a nod of approval to the format for coming series, the match will be played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, reported ESPNcricinfo.
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The New Zealand series is set to overlap the Duleep Trophy, which is making its return to the Indian domestic calendar. The six-team zonal competition will be played from September 8 to 25 in a knock-out format. Dates of the Duleep Trophy will clash with the majority of the Kiwi visit, making it difficult for selectors to pick anything but understrength squads for the first-class competition.
Australia A visit to India in November?
The series against New Zealand A could precede a visit by Australia A for the Indians. ESPNcricinfo reported, the BCCI is "understood to be in negotiations with Cricket Australia for a tour towards the end of the year - most likely in November."
The series, if it goes ahead, will be played prior to the start of the Ranji Trophy and India's next Test match assignment, a two-match tour of Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh series will be India's penultimate assignment for the ongoing cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC), which they conclude with a four-Test series at home against Australia in February-March.