Indian news round-up

The weather has played spoil sport forcing the organisers to reschedule the matches between the touring Tamil Nadu team and the Colombo District Cricket Association team. The organisers have now announced new dates for the matches with the first one-day game being rescheduled for Sunday at the SSC grounds.

CDCA president Michael de Zoysa said that if the one-day series played for the FC de Saram Trophy is undecided after the first two one-day matches, there is a possibility that a third game will be played to decide the series. "We have not put this across to the visiting side. We will wait and see the outcome of the first two matches before doing that," said de Zoysa.

Meanwhile in Chennai, TNCA secretary Ashok Kumbhat said on Friday that there was a possibility of the State's side tour being extended. Kumbhat said that the CDCA has already agreed to the proposal. He also said that Aashish Kapoor will continue to remain captain and S Mahesh his deputy for the entire tour. Earlier, Robin Singh and S Sriram were supposed to have taken over from him. Discarded probables S Ramesh, Reuben Paul and T Kumaran left on Saturday for Sri Lanka to join the team.

The revised itinerary: September 24 - 1st one-day game at SSC September 25 - 2nd one-day game at R. Premadasa Stadium. September 27-30 - Gopalan trophy match at SSC. October 1 - 3rd one-day game (if required) - venue to be decided.

Keki D Kotwal was named the manager of the Indian squad for the ICC Knock-out tournament to be played at Nairobi from October 3-15. This was announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Mumbai on Friday. Kotwal is the chairman, cricket committee, Cricket Club of India.

Earlier after the selection committee meeting in Chennai on September 21, BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele said that former Indian opener and Member of Parliament, Chetan Chauhan turned down the offer of manager made to him.

Former Indian player Praveen Amre, Amit Bhandari, Rahul Sanghvi and Vikram Rathour, India u-19 World Cup star RS Sodhi, Pankaj Dharmani and Virender Shewag are some of the star attractions for the seventh JP Atray Memorial cricket tournament to be held at the PCA stadium, SAS Nagar, from September 24.

The six teams taking part have been divided into two groups. Air India, Punjab Club and CRSB XI are in Group A while Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Bishnoi Club and PCA Colts figure in Group B. The winners and runners-up of each group will qualify for the semi-finals. The league matches are scheduled to be played from September 24 to 28, the semifinals on September 29 and 30 while the final is slated for October 1.