India to play one-day series at home against Windies, Lankans

Mumbai, Sep 22 (UNI) The Indian cricket team, as a build up to the 2007 World Cup in the Carribean Isles, would play two bilateral series' of four one-day matches each against West Indies and Sri Lanka at home in January-February next year.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Niranjan Shah speaking to UNI over phone confirmed the two series' as the final tune-up for the squad under competitive match conditions ahead of the March 13-April 28 World Cup in the West Indies.

He said, ''At the moment, we have planned for a four-match series each with Sri Lanka and West Indies, but we are awaiting final confirmation for the exact number of matches the two teams will play in India.'' The details would be finalised during the Dubai meeting of the ICC Chief Executives Committee on September 24 and 25, he added.

Shah, who is scheduled to attend the ICC meeting, said the series against the West Indies would be held first and it would be followed by the one against the Sri Lankans.

He said, ''The India-Windies series would be held between January 18 and 30, 2007 while the one against the Lankans would be held between February 7 and 18.'' Prior to these two rubbers at home, India would be engaged in a five-match limited over series in South Africa against the hosts from November 19 to Dec 3, besides playing a three-Test series between December 15 and Jan 6.

India would be playing a minimum of three and a maximum of five matches in the ICC Champions Trophy beginning in India on October 7.

India will be playing their first match on October 15.

The Indian team has planned to reach the Caribbean on March 1 and play a few warm-up games before their tournament opener on March 17 against Bangladesh.

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