Sports Reporter The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finalised the fixture of the Pepsi triangular series, scheduled to begin in India from May 14.
ICC Trophy champions Bangladesh, runners-up Kenya and India will take part in the tri-nation tournament, to be played at seven different venues across the country. All the matches will be day-night affairs with each team playing against each other twice.
Top two finishers will set up a final clash at the Eden Gardens on May 31.
Bangladesh will take on the hosts in the inaugural match at Mohali before travelling to Hyderabad to renew rivalry with Kenya on May 17. Bangladesh's repeat clash with their African rivals will be held at Madras on May 23. They will take on India in their last league encounter at Mumbai on May 25.
The tournament, which was earlier scheduled to begin on May 14, will provide an opportunity for Bangladesh to rub their shoulders against class Indian players like Sachin Tendulkar and skipper Mohammad Azharuddin as part of their preparation for the 1999 World Cup in England.
Meanwhile, the Kenyans have announced off-spinner Asif Karim as captain in the second visit to India after the 1996 World Cup, jointly organised by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Ajay Jadeja is likely to lead India instead of Azharuddin.
Bangladesh, who will be looking forward to avenge their demoralising defeats at the hands of Kenya in the Nairobi tri-nation tournament last year, is likely to announce the final squad next week.
SCHEDULE Match Venue May 14 Bangladesh vs India Mohali May 17 Bangladesh vs Kenya Hyderabad May 20 India vs Kenya Bangalore May 23 Bangladesh vs Kenya Madras May 25 Bangladesh vs India Mumbai May 28 India vs Kenya Gwalior May 31 Final Calcutta June 1 Reserve day
Nat'l cricket qualifying round May 1
Sports Reporter
The qualifying round of the 24th national cricket championship will begin at five zones across the country from May 1.
A total of 44 districts and three other teams - Jahangirnagar University, BUET and Bangladesh Police, split into five zones Thakurgaon, Bogra, Satkhira, Patuakhali and Dhaka, will compete in the two-week long qualifying stage. The champions of the five zones will join hosts Sylhet and last year's four semifinalists - Chittagong, Dhaka University, Biman and Dhaka district in the final round which will be held in Sylhet from the third week of May.
The participants of the qualifying rounds have been accommodated in the following zones for the knockout phase:
Thakurgaon: Rajshahi, Lalmonirhat, Sirajganj, Kurigram, Rangpur, Jamalpur, Panchagar and Dinajpur.
Bogra: Thakurgaon, Pabna, Jahangirnagar University, Natore, Satkhira, Nilphamari, Gaibandha and Tangail.
Satkhira: Khulna, Jhenidah, Barisal, Meherpur, Patuakhali, BUET, Bogra and Faridpur.
Patuakhali: Narsingdi, Pirojpur, Rajbari, Magura, Gopalganj, Madaripur, Chuadanga and Narayanganj.