JULY 1: Defending CHAMPIONS Mumbai open their Ranji Trophy season on October 22 when they take on Gujarat away from home in the West Zone league engagement.

The West Zone schedule for the 1997-98 schedule was released by the Mumbai Cricket Association.

The press release also informed that Mumbai will be hosting the Irani Trophy match between Mumbai and Rest of India on October 1-5. The city will also play host to the Challenger Trophy between October 9 and 12.

Following is the programme for West Zone for the season 1997-98:

RANJI TROPHY

Oct 23-26: Saurashtra vs Baroda at Saurashtra; Gujarat vs Mumbai at Gujarat; One-dayer on Oct 22

Nov 6-9: Mumbai vs Maharashtra at Mumbai; Saurashtra vs Gujarat at Saurashtra; One-dayer on Nov 5

Nov 14-17: Baroda vs Mumbai at Baroda; Gujarat vs Maharashtra at Gujarat; One-dayer on Nov 13

Nov 22-25: Baroda vs Gujarat at Baroda; Maharashtra vs Saurashtra at Maharashtra; One-dayer on Nov 21

Nov 30-Dec 3: Maharashtra vs Baroda at Maharashtra; Mumbai vs Saurashtra at Mumbai

COOCH BEHAR TROPHY U-19

Oct 20-22: Baroda vs Gujarat at Baroda; Maharashtra vs Saurashtra at Maharashtra

Oct 25-27: Mumbai vs Saurashtra at Mumbai; Gujarat vs Maharashtra at GujaratNov 7-9: Baroda vs Mumbai at Baroda; Saurashtra vs Gujarat at GujaratNov 13-15: Maharashtra vs Baroda at Maharashtra; Gujarat vs Mumbai at GujaratNov 18-20: Saurashtra vs Baroda at Saurashtra; Mumbai vs Maharashtra at Mumbai

VIJAY MERCHANT TROPHY U-16

Nov 25-27: Maharashtra vs Baroda at Maharashtra; Gujarat vs Mumbai at Gujarat

Dec 1-3: Baroda vs Mumbai at Baroda; Saurashtra vs Gujarat at SaurashtraDec 7-9: Saurashtra vs Baroda at Saurashtra; Mumbai vs Maharashtra at MumbaiDec 13-15: Baroda vs Gujarat at Baroda; Maharashtra vs Saurashtra at Maharashtra

Dec 18-20: Mumbai vs Saurashtra at Mumbai; Gujarat vs Maharashtra at Gujarat

IRANI TROPHY: The Irani Trophy match between Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai and the Rest of India team will be played from October 1 to 5, 1997.CHALLENGER TROPHY: The Challenger Trophy matches will be hosted by Mumbai Cricket Association between October 9 and 12, 1997 involving India A, India B and India Senior Team.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.