Zimbabwe A to participate in Duleep Trophy

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has invited Zimbabwe A to participate in Duleep trophy to be played in October. This development comes following requests made by Peter Chingoka, the president of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, during his visit to Kolkata.

"We have taken the decision to have Zimbabwe A as an extra side in this year's Duleep Trophy," Goutam Dasgupta, the joint-secretary of the BCCI, was quoted as saying in PTI report. "Zimbabwe do not have any international assignment at that time. So, it will not be a problem for them to include some top-notch players in the A side."

The BCCI has been inviting a foreign squad as the sixth team in the inter-zonal Duleep Trophy since 2003, with the object of raising the level of competition, and giving domestic teams a feel of international cricket. An England XI paticipated in the inaugural year, while last year Bangladesh took part.