Mumbai, July 18: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and allrounder Ajit Agarkar are certain to play in the five-day Irani Trophy cricket match between Ranji Trophy champions and rest of India at Chennai from September 18 to 22. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) joint secretary Prof Ratnakar Shetty told media persons here today that he spoke to Tendulkar, Agarkar and paceman Avishkar Salvi and the three have confirmed their availability as they wanted to play in a five-day match before taking on the kiwis at home in a two match Test series.

"In fact almost all the Indian players are certain to play in the challenger one-day series to be held in Bangalore from September 10 to 14 and some of them who get picked for the rest of India side will definitely make the most of it before an important home series", he said. "Tendulkar, who has been out of action particularly in the longer version of the game due to a finger injury which was set right after an operation in the US, is very eager to play in the Irani Trophy to get some much needed match practice," Shetty said.

It is also learnt that Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, left arm seamers Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra and leg spinner Anil Kumble are also eager to play in the Irani Trophy match. Bureau Report