Indian news round-up

The working committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is to meet in Bangalore on August 19 is to discuss the invitation to play a one off Test in Bangladesh during the first week of November.

Press Trust of India reported on Monday that Bangladesh's invitation to India for playing the nation's first Test would be finalised during the meeting along with the itineraries for the forthcoming tours of Zimbabwe and Australia to India.

The agency also reported that Pakistan's Invitation to India for a three Test and five one day series would also be discussed during the meeting.

The Times of India reported on Monday that the CK Nayudu awards committee is to meet in Bangalore on August 19 to nominate this year's recipient of the annual CK Nayudu award. The award was instituted by the BCCI in 1996 to honour contributions by players, officials and journalists.

The award consists of prize money of Rs two lakh and a trophy with the sculpture of CK Nayudu. Polly Umrigar was last year's recipient of the award while the others who have received the award are Lala Amarnath, Mushtaq Ali, Vijay Hazare and veteran cricket writer KN Prabhu.

The Lucknow Cricket Academy secretary Mohsin Raza said on Monday that the academy is to hold a two day trial on August 26 and 27 to select ten cricketers from the state to represent the academy for the tour to Sharjah and Dubai in October.

Quoting Raza, United News of India said that those cricketers interested could contact the Academy by August 20. Raza said that besides the ten players, others would be taken from the Academy.

The Lucknow Cricket Academy has been invited to participate in the Cricket festival in the United Arab Emirates and is to play matches in both cities.

Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, who was dismissed for just four looked out of sorts as Lancashire lost the NatWest Trophy semifinals to Gloucestershire by 98 runs at Bristol on Monday after rain washed out play on the scheduled day of play.

Chasing 249 for a place in the final of the one day tourney, Lancashire made a shaky start when they lost opener Michael Atherton for two with only three on the board. The other opener Ganguly followed soon leaving Lancashire at 21 for 2. Then Neil Fairbrother (22) and John Crawley (41) tried to rebuild the innings. But the fall of Crawley caused a collapse and the Lancashire innings folded up giving Gloucestershire a well deserved 98-run victory.

The other two Indians Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble who are representing Kent and Leicestershire had no engagements on the day.