India to play three ODIs in Bangladesh before touring England

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has finalised a three-match ODI series in Bangladesh next month before the Indian team embarks on a lengthy tour of England, lasting over two months. 

"We want to give some practice to our players (who are now playing only IPL games -- T20 matches), as the England tour is pretty long, lasting for two-and-half months," BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said on Monday. 

Asked how a tour of Bangladesh, with sub-continental wickets, will help the players in England, Patel said the idea was to try new players, but refused to answer whether it meant some leading regulars may be rested. 

"We may try out some new players, I can't say more," said Patel, when queried about news reports that skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli may be rested. 

Dhoni, in fact, had opted out of the Asia Cup earlier this year in Bangladesh after India's back-to-back tours of South Africa and New Zealand, and Kohli led the team. 

Both, however, were part of the squad that took part in the World T20 Championship, held a little later in the same country. 

India will commence their tour of England in the latter part of June and play five Tests, as many ODIs and a one-off T20 international that will spill over to the beginning of September. 

This will be the first five-match Test series for India in Old Blighty since 1959, when they were whitewashed. 

Incidentally, the Dhoni-led team was comprehensively beaten 4-0 in the four-game rubber in 2011, India's previous full tour to England, and this visit gives it a chance to make amends. 

Image: Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Duncan Fletcher

Photograph: BCCI