India will play Twenty20 WC in 2007

BCCI will particate in game's Twenty-20 version after being outvoted by 10-1 at the ICC meeting.

BCCI on Sunday dropped its opposition to the game's Twenty-20 version, deciding to participate in the inaugural World Cup in South Africa in 2007. "The Indian cricket board was not in favour of the Twenty-20 version, but it was isolated as most other nations supported the idea," said N Srinivasan, BCCI treasurer.

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"We've accepted the International Cricket Council's decision in good grace, and agreed to participate in the World Cup," Srinivasan told reporters after a meeting of the high-powered working panel. Niranjan Shah, secretary of the board, said India was the only nation that did not support the Twenty-20 World Cup's proposal in a recent meeting of ICC officials.

"We were outvoted 10-1 at the ICC meeting, but won't stay away from the Twenty-20 World Cup," Shah said.

India had earlier opposed the ICC's plans to expand the Twenty-20 version's international fixtures, even refusing to entertain the plans to include this shorter game in the 2010 Commonwealth Games - to be staged in the Indian capital of New Delhi.

Srinivasan said Indian cricketers would be provided a chance to prepare for shorter version of the game ahead of the Twenty-20 World Cup.

"We couldn't introduce any new competition to this year's packed domestic schedule, but the next season's calendar will feature more Twenty-20 matches," he said.

Shah said the Indian team would be introduced to the Twenty-20 version when it plays one match against South Africa in November during the coming tour of South Africa.