Duleep to get a foreign touch

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may invite a foreign team to participate in the Duleep Trophy tournament next season. The possibility was suggested by Sunil Gavaskar, who chaired a meeting of Ranji Trophy captains and coaches in Mumbai on June 6.

After the meeting, Gavaskar said, "Since the English season ends by September there is a strong likelihood of the winning county or the Bangladesh national team participating in the Duleep Trophy next season. We are planning to have the sixth team in the zonal championship so as to make the tournament more competitive, though nothing has been finalised so far."

The Duleep Trophy has traditionally been dominated by the West, North and South zones, though the format was changed last season. Not many - in the press box or the stands - understood the logic behind the elite and plate sides that took part, with players arbitrarily chosen for each.

Surrey are currently running away with the English county championship, and if the BCCI's intentions are to be believed, the likes of Adam Hollioake and Graham Thorpe could be entertaining Indian crowds next season. So what if England doesn't want them...