NZC arranging practice matches for Indian Test players

Christchurch, Feb 21 (PTI) To fulfill its commitment of
arranging a warm-up match for Indian players before the first
Test, New Zealand Cricket is mulling sending them to different
provinces for practice.

India had agreed to extend their Test series from two to
three matches on the request of NZC and in lieu of that they
had demanded some practice for the players, who were not part
of the ODI squad.

Six Indian players -- Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Amit
Mishra, Murali Vijay, Dhawal Kulkarni and Laxmipathi Balaji --
are expected to play in New Zealand's domestic circuit before
the first Test, beginning March 18.

NZC Chief executive Justin Vaughan said they were making
plans to fulfill their commitment.

"India have bent over backwards to accommodate our wish
for three Tests so we have to give them some warmup. I said to
them: 'We won't leave you in the lurch, we will give you some
decent warmup,' and one way or the other we will honour that,"
Vaughan said.

"Dravid and Co. are pencilled in to play the State
Championship round that runs from March 6 till March 9. Which
side they played in would either be a "contestable process" or
made by 'random allocation'," Vaughan was quoted as saying by
the 'Dominion Post'

Vaughan said it was NZC's duty to make such an
arrangement as as part of the deal with the Board of Control
for Cricket in India (BCCI).

New Zealand Cricket had faced criticism for agreeing to
arrange a practice match for England between the first and
second Tests for swing bowler James Anderson, last summer.

"This is slightly different because it is almost a deal
to get them here for three tests. I wish there was a better
way to do it, we are still evaluating the options.

"We haven't reached a final decision on it it will
probably be next week. My board is considering it at the
moment and I've talked briefly to the major associations about
it. I understand if there is some opposition to it," he said.

Vaughan also dismissed allegations that they were
arranging the practice to please the cash-rich BCCI.

"Put that to one side. We had an agreement when we put to
them the schedule for three tests that we would give them
adequate warmup. Irrespective of their position in world
cricket, I just feel that is the right thing to do," he
contended. PTI AT
DEP