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Lanka, India to clash for Brijesh Patel's benefit

Sri Lanka, en route to Pakistan for a limited overs quadrangular, will stop over in India for a day-night one day fixture against the Indian team in Bangalore on October 16.

The game, which will for the Sri Lankans serve as match practise, will be for former Test star Brijesh Patel's benefit, and has the sanction of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Interestingly Aptech Computers, which is sponsoring the Indian team for the game, has announced a unique scheme whereby anybody producing a ticket for the game will get a 50 per cent discount on fees for any computer course offered by Aptech, anywhere in the country.

The game will makr the return to the Indian team of Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad and Anil Kumble. While it is argued that the three, being Bangalore boys, are there for the sake of the home fans, this will effectively be the first time Srinath and Prasad have bowled in India colours after their respective injuries. And, considering the opposition they are going up against, the first indication of just how much their injuries have taken out of them.

The teams are: India: Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Javagal Srinath, Anil Kumble, Vinod Kambli, Venkatesh Prasad, Abey Kuruvilla, Harvinder Singh, Debashish Mohanty, Nayan Mongia and Sunil Joshi.

Sri Lanka: Arunja Ranatunga, Aravinda D'Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya, Roshan Mahanama, Marvan Atappatu, Hashan Tillekeratne, Muthiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Sajeeva D'Silva, Lanka D'Silva, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Ruwan Kalpage, Ravindra Pushpakumara and Dileep Liyanage.

Meanwhile, the BCCI has announced the itinerary of the three-game ODI series between the two sides, later this year. It reads: India versus Sri Lanka, match one, Guwahati, December 22; match two, Indore, December 25 and game three, December 28. The venue for the third game is however yet to be announced.