England Lions will be the sixth team to play in India's domestic tournament -- the Duleep Trophy -- this year, before heading off for a tour of New Zealand from February.
"England Lions have been invited to play in India's domestic Duleep Trophy in the new year, which the England and Wales Cricket Board believe will provide useful match practice for fringe players before the New Zealand tour from February," according to a report in the Daily Telegraph.
The Duleep Trophy will be played from January 26 to February 23.
The 46-year-old inter-zonal competition is contested by West Zone, East Zone, North Zone, South Zone and Central Zone of the country, but the Indian Board began including teams from overseas as the sixth side in the event, since 2003-04 when England A competed.
Meanwhile, Durham seamer Graham Onions is set to play for Mumbai in the ongoing Ranji Trophy.
"Onions, 25, will travel with the Lions squad from Chandigarh to Madras this evening but he will depart early to play in the competition. The England management were keen for him to gain experience in the sub-continent," the paper said.
"It is thought that Hampshire paceman Chris Tremlett, who featured in the Test series against India this year, was first requested but he may have to fly to Sri Lanka to cover for Steve Harmison," it added.
