26 February,2009 01:14 PM IST | | PTI
Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik will play in Thursday's International Masters Game, the curtain-raiser to the Twenty20 International between India and New Zealand at Westpac Stadium here.
The duo, who are not in India's Twenty20 squad, were drafted into the New Zealand and Australian Masters' teams, respectively, after discussions with the New Zealand Cricket Players Association (NZCPA).
Tendulkar will turn out for NZCPA Masters while Karthik will wear opposition team Australian Cricketers' Association Masters' colours in the Twenty20 game which will see retired players of New Zealand and Australia, including Stephen Fleming, Dion Nash, Darren Lehmann and Ian Healy, in action.
"This is a great opportunity for Tendulkar and Karthik to have a few hits in the middle. We are happy to work with the Players Association to bring them into the masters teams," said India coach Gary Kirsten.
There was also a proposal of Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Murali Vijay, Laxmipathy Balaji, Amit Mishra and new fast bowling find Dhawal Kulkarni turning out for provincial teams in New Zealand domestic championship to gain match-practice before the three-match Test series starting on March 18. The move had got support from New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive Justin Vaughan but the NZCPA had refused changing the rule of inclusion of overseas players in provincial teams halfway in the domestic season.
