India - New Zealand Series

Tedulkar to get practice in T20 game

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik will play in Friday’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.

Tags: dinesh karthik, sachin tendulkar