Indian news round-up

Pakistan willing to play India in Bangladesh: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed willingness to play India in Bangladesh in a triangular series if India participated in the competition. This is in sharp contrast to the threats made by the PCB of late when it said that it would skip playing India if the Indian government refused to send the team to Pakistan.

PCB chief Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, has said Malaysian cricket officials were trying to stage a triangular series in Dhaka in January with Pakistan, India and Bangladesh as participants, quotes PTI. Zia said "So far nothing is confirmed, no itinerary has been finalised and I'm not very hopeful India will play. But if they do, Pakistan will have no problems going to Dhaka."

Replying in the negative on India's decision to review their proposed tour to Pakistan which has been cancelled, Tauqir Zia replied said he was still waiting for something to happen. He said "We've not lost hope, that's for sure."

According to a Tamil Nadu Cricket Association press release on Sunday, Indian allrounder Robin Singh will lead Tamil Nadu in the KS Subbiah Pillai Trophy South Zone limited overs tournament. The matches are to be played in Chennai from December 5 to 11. Tamil Nadu won the last edition of the tournament by topping the table with nine points and clinch a spot in the Wills Trophy. This year, Tamil Nadu have already won the Ranji Trophy South Zone league to retain the MD Soundararajan Trophy.

The squad: Robin Singh (Captain), S Ramesh, S Mahesh, S Sharath, C Hemanth Kumar, T Kumaran, Rajat Bhatia, Aashish Kapoor, Reuban Paul, MR Sreenivas, R Satish, W D Balaji Rao, S Badrinath, JR Madanagopal, L Balaji and Vasanth Saravanan. Coach: K.Bharath Kumar.

Sunil Oasis will lead Kerala in the South Zone Ranji Trophy one-day tournament for the KS Subbiah Pillai Trophy, to be played in Chennai from December 5 to 11. Kerala who narrowly missed out a place in the next stage from the Ranji Trophy league, finished fourth in the 1999-2000 season.

The squad for the one-day tournament: S Oasis, KN Ananthapadmanabhan, F Mohammed, MP Sorab, NA Kudua CP Menon, S Nair, R Menon, T Yohannan, G Sanjay Mohan, KP Harikrishnan (wicket-keeper), M Suresh Kumar, K Chandrashekara, C Sanju. Coach: P Balachandran and Manager: G Kumar.

Warwickshire's Ian Bell will lead the England under-19 side to tour India and play the Indian under-19 team. The tour is scheduled to be played from December 27 to February 7. According to the Times of India online, the team will play three four-day `Tests' and three onedayers. The 15-member squad consists of at least eight players who have first class experience.

The England Under 19 Squad: Ian Bell, Mark Wallace (wicket-keeper), Nicky Peng, Kadeer Ali, Gary Pratt, Monty Panesar, Ian Pattison, John Sadler, Justin Bishop, Chris Tremlett, Gordon Muchall, Andrew McGarry, Robert Ferley, Kyle Hogg, Arul Suppiah. Tour Manager: Tim Tremlett. Coach: Tim Boon. Physiotherapist: Kirk Russell. Physiologist: Mark Simpson.