Tendulkar, Zaheer, Agarkar make themselves available for Twenty20

Mumbai, Apr 11 (UNI) Mumbai today received a fillip in their bid for the third title of the season when Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar made themselves available for the inaugural All India Twenty20 inter-state tournament, which will begin from April 15 at Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

''Tendulkar, Zaheer and Agarkar have intimated to us that they want to play in the All India Twenty20 Tournament. The Mumbai squad is to be chosen tomorrow,'' Mumbai Cricket Assocaition's (MCA) joint secretary Lalchand Rajput said.

Tendulkar, after making himself available, hit the nets and had a long practice session at the MIG cricket ground in suburban Bandra today.

Despite the trio's absence for the zonal rounds held earlier this month, Mumbai, who also bagged the corresponding national 50-over title, easily qualified for the inter-zonals by topping the West Zone league with three wins and a loss.

Tendulkar has been sent a show cause notice by MCA's parent body, the Cricket Board, seeking explanation for violating its Code of Conduct by speaking to the media after the Indian team's debacle in the World Cup.

The inter-zonals are to be held in a league format in two groups, with Group A matches scheduled to be played here and Group B ties, also featuring Mumbai, in Ahmedabad from April 15 to 19, culminating in the final between the winners of the two pools.

The summit clash is to be held at the Cricket Club of India's Brabourne Stadium here on April 21.

UNI