Indian team departs for Ireland

The 15-member Indian team, led by Rahul Dravid, left Mumbai early on Wednesday morning for London en route to Ireland on a 80-day tour of the United Kingdom.

The team is slated to play four one-day internationals in Ireland, starting with a match against the hosts on June 23 followed by a three-match series against South Africa.

They will clash with arch-rivals Pakistan in a one-off ODI clash at Glasgow on July 3, the proceeds of which would go to the Prince Charles Charitable Trust.

The players would then move to England to take on the hosts in a three-Test series, which would be followed by seven one-dayers.

The team is accompanied by manager Chandu Borde, bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Robin Singh, apart from five other support staff, completing the 23-member touring party.

Photograph: Arun Patil