Kolkata, Nov 12: India will be playing three one-day matches in the first week of September next year in England just before the start of the Champions Trophy cricket tournament there. The brief one-day series for the Natwest Trophy would be held between September 1 to 5 with matches at Trent Bridge, Oval and Lords, according to an announcement made by the England Cricket Board on its website.

Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) sources here said these matches had been proposed as warm-ups going into the important Champions Trophy. The current season will see India undertaking the tour of Australia later this month. They will return in the middle of February before travelling to Pakistan for a full fledged series as well as Asia Cup to be held in April. But after that there is nothing on schedule for about four months before the September 10-25 Champions Trophy.

Prior to embarking on the trip to England, the Indian team would undergo a training camp for about a fortnight, the BCCI sources here said. According to information available here, efforts are also on to organise some one-day matches with Australia.
If finalised, matches between India and Australia would be held either in England or some other European country, it was learnt.

Bureau Report