Challenger Trophy to open domestic season

The Irani Cup match between last season's Ranji Trophy champions, Uttar Pradesh, and Rest of India has been allocated to Vidarbha Cricket Association, and will be held in Nagpur from October 9-13.

Traditionally the domestic season's opening fixture, the Irani Cup has been pushed down to the number two slot for the 2006-07 season, while the high-profile N K P Salve Challenger Trophy tournament, to be played under lights at Chennai from October 1-4, will kick-start the domestic circuit.

India Seniors, India 'A' and 'B' will compete in the Challenger Trophy, which features all the leading cricketers of the country.

The teams will be selected on September 25.

The Challenger series is sandwiched between the Indian team's return from Malaysia and the commencement of the ICC Champions Trophy, in India, beginning October 7.

Kolkata's Eden Gardens will host the Duleep Trophy final from November 12 to 16 after the conclusion of the league phase, which is slated from October 19 to November 7, at six centers in central and east zones.

The Ranji Trophy Elite and Plate division leagues will be held from November 23, 2006, to January 13, 2007 and December 28, 2006 respectively while the semi-finals and final would be gone through from January 23 to 27 and February 1 to 5, 2007 respectively.

The domestic schedule:

Oct 1-4: N K P Salve Challenger Trophy, Chennai

Oct 9-13: Irani Cup tie (UP v Rest of India), Nagpur

Oct 19-22: Duleep Trophy league, Indore and Gwalior

Oct 27-30: Duleep Trophy league, Cuttack and Jamshedpur

Nov 4-7: Duleep Trophy league, Kolkata and Guwahati

Nov 12-16: Final, Kolkata

Nov 23-26: 1st round of Ranji Elite and Plate leagues

Dec 1-4: 2nd round of Ranji E and P leagues

Dec 9-12: 3rd round of Ranji E and P leagues

Dec 17-20: 4th round of Ranji E and P leagues

Dec 25-28: 5th round of Ranji E and P leagues