Dissatisfied with the performance of 'weak' foreign squads, the Board of Control for Cricket in India is planning to include a side comprising National Cricket Academy trainees as the sixth team in the Duleep Trophy.
The matter will come up for discussion at a meeting of the BCCI Tour and Programmes committee, which meets in Mumbai on July 4, according to Board joint-secretary Goutam Dasgupta.
In an effort to raise the competition level and give the five participating zonal teams a feel of international cricket, the BCCI had decided to allow a foreign team to play in the tournament.
While an England team took part in 2003, a Bangladesh side made up the sixth team last year. But both the foreign entries put up a poor show, forcing the BCCI to rethink.
Asked how the NCA team would be formed, with several trainees likely to find places in zonal teams, Dasgupta said, "It will be constituted with those left out of the zonal sides."
If the tours and programmes committee gives its nod, the matter would be placed at the next working committee of the Board for final approval.
Dasgupta said the Board is also considering a change in the points system of the Ranji Trophy following a suggestion from captains and coaches.
As per the system started a couple of years back, a team conceding a lead was not given any point.
"This resulted in that team getting desperate to snatch an outright win and in the mad scramble ending up with a disastrous performance. And in some other cases, the team lost the zeal to carry on the fight," Dasgupta said.
To tide over the problem, the Board is contemplating awarding one point to the team conceding a first innings lead.
"This matter will be debated in the technical committee and again put before the working committee," he said.
The use of white balls and coloured clothing in the Deodhar Trophy is another matter that is likely to get clearance soon, he added.
