Indian team's 'extended practice' in Nagpur from Jan 17

Nagpur, Jan 11 (UNI) The Indian cricket squad for the first two ODIs against West Indies will have 'extended practice' at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) stadium here from January 17.

Speaking to mediapersons here, VCA Vice President Sudhir Dabir said the players had been asked to assemble in Nagpur by the evening of January 16. The team would practice on January 17, 18, 19 and 20, he added.

The team for the first two ODIs will be announced in Rajkot tomorrow.

India play the first of the four-match one-day international (ODI) series against the West Indies in Nagpur on January 21. ''This is not a preparatory or a conditioning camp, but only extended practice for the team,'' Mr Dabir said.

The West Indies team is scheduled to arrive here on January 19 morning and would practise for two days before the game, he said.

In reply to a question, he said India coach Greg Chappel and Selection Committee Chairman Dilip Vengsarkar met Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice President Shashank Manohar in Nagpur yesterday.

''It was only an informal meeting. The three were to meet in South Africa earlier, but Mr Manohar could not make it because of a professional commitment,'' he said.

He added that the umpires for the Nagpur ODI would be Billy Bowden and Surersh Shastri, while G A Pratapkumar would be the third umpire and V N Kulkarni the fourth umpire. Allan Hurst would be the match referee, he said.

UNI