The Indian board has announced that it will participate in a three-nation warm-up tournament with Australia and Pakistan in the Netherlands in August ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in September.

India were due to play two Tests and three ODIs in Bangladesh in August, but these have now been indefinitely postponed. Announcing the decision, SK Nair, the board secretary, said that he hoped that the series could be rearranged for 2005.

"The board was very keen to send a full-strength team to Bangladesh but have decided against it as we don't want our cricketers to suffer burnout before an important four-match Test series against Australia in September," Nair explained. "Our cricketers will get hardly a month's break after the Pakistan tour. Major tournaments this year include the Asia Cup in June-July, the tri-nation tournament in Amsterdam from August 22-27, followed by three one-day matches in England before the Champions Trophy."

He added that South Africa are likely to tour India to play seven one-day matches in November this year. "If the South African Board agrees then we will invite them for a Test series in the beginning of next year."