Parthiv Patel

Rahul Dravid is hoping to give up his role as India's one-day wicket-keeper in the near future.
He has done the job in 63 of his 229 one-day appearances, taking 57 catches and completing 11 stumpings.

Next month's Asia Cup offers the selectors a chance to pass the job on to Test keeper Parthiv Patel.

"Wicket- keeping is not something that comes naturally to me. I look upon it as a challenge and try and do my best," Dravid commented.

"I hope Parthiv will be given the opportunity to become a full-fledged wicket-keeper/batsman [in one-dayers] that probably India needs in the future."

Patel has only managed 113 runs in 12 one-day matches, the last against Australia in January, at an average of 14.

But his batting is showing signs of improvement and he made scores of 62 not out and 69 in the second and third Tests against Pakistan in April.

India have been drawn in the same first round group as hosts Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates for the Asia Cup.

They then move on to a triangular tournament against Pakistan and Australia in Holland in August, to be followed by the three-match NatWest Challenge against England.

Both events have been arranged to give them practice ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, which takes place in England in September.

India shared the trophy with Sri Lanka in 2002 after the final was ruined by rain.