Reports: India to host New Zealand A for four-day, three List A games in August-September

The India-A programme has played a big part in the country’s massive growth across formats and it was resumed last year after being stopped for a while due to the Covid-19 breakout. India A toured South Africa in November last year ahead of the three-match Test series and now, New Zealand=A are set to visit India for three four-day games and three List A games.

This will be the first time a New Zealand-A side will visit the country since the 2017-18 tour to India which featured a pink-ball fixture. A similar pink-ball game is expected to take place in the upcoming tour while a confirmation on it is still awaited. The New Zealand-A squad is expected to arrive by the end of August and the series is expected to collide with India’s domestic schedule which starts with the Duleep Trophy.

“New Zealand A will arrive in India by the end of August for three four-day games and as many List A matches, with all of them likely to be held in Bengaluru. The BCCI is also contemplating the possibility of a pink-ball fixture during the series, but a final nod is awaited,” according to ESPNcricinfo sources.

New Zealand A tour likely to be held in Bengaluru

All the A-tour games are likely to be held in Bengaluru, while NCA head VVS Laxman and his NCA support staff group of Sairaj Bahutule and Sitanshu Kotak are likely to take over the responsibilities. Laxman is currently with the Indian limited-overs squad for the three match ODI tour of Zimbabwe in the absence of Rahul Dravid, who will be in  the UAE with the Asia Cup squad soon.

Moreover, there have been negotiations with Cricket Australia for an A-tour in the month of November ahead of the start of the Ranji Trophy season this year. This will be a great boost to Indian cricket if the incoming tours of New Zealand A and Australia A get underway as per the planned schedule.