India will send an A-team to tour Zimbabwe later this month, replacing the West Indies who cancelled their trip on safety grounds earlier this week. They will play two four-day and two one-day matches from July 22.

"We are excited to have the replacement tour," Dave Everington, Zimbabwe Cricket's senior manager for cricket operations, said. "Our boys have been in camp for a fortnight so it was a huge blow to them when the West Indies A tour was cancelled. With India A coming, it means those vying for a place in the Zimbabwe Select side have something to fight for again."

It is believed that Zimbabwe Cricket is also in talks with the Kenyan board with a view to participating in a triangular tournament including India A in Kenya in August.

The programme to expose the young Zimbabwe players to top-level three or four-day matches in preparation for the resumption of Test participation will also see Sri Lanka A touring in October.

"There are areas the guys still need to work on so that the next time we play an international opposition we will be better skilled and better prepared," Kevin Curran, the national coach, said. "The guys are working hard. They will undergo a skills session next week."