Mumbai, Baroda teams for Kenya

Ranji Trophy champions Baroda and former champions Mumbai will play a triangular limited-overs cricket tournament with Kenya from September 10 to 24, in Kenya.

The teams will play each other thrice in a league phase. The final is slated for September 24, Mumbai Cricket Association's joint secretary Mayank Khandwala said on Monday.

Mumbai will also play a three-day match against Kenya.

"The main intention of touring Kenya is to give exposure to the Mumbai players and help them get accustomed to staying together, which in turn would help them knit well as a team," Khandwala said.

"An invitation from the Kenya Cricket Association was received by the MCA and the newly-formed Cricket Improvement Committee sanctioned the tour immediately," Khandwala added.

"The MCA selectors will meet in Mumbai in the third or fourth week of August to pick the team for the tour," he informed.

Kenya had invited Mumbai last year but the tour was cancelled due to the non-availability of star batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who was busy with the Indian team's conditioning camp for the International Cricket Council's mini World Cup.

Mail Cricket Editor