Six of India’s Test side are set to join New Zealand’s domestic first-class competition ahead of the three-match series.

New Zealand Cricket has proposed the move, which will see stars Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, spin bowler Amit Mishra and emerging trio Murali Vijay, Dhawal Kulkarni and Laxmipathi Balaji each join one of host country’s provincial sides.

They will participate for a round of State Championship four-day cricket, instead of a warm-up match before the first Test which begins in Hamilton on March 18.

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said the plan still needed board approval but that when the re-jigged schedule, which included an extra Test, was agreed, promises were made that India’s Test specialists would be given “some cricket”.

“India have bent over backwards to accommodate our wish for three Tests so we have to give them some warm-up,” Vaughan told The Dominion Post.

“I said to them: ‘We won’t leave you in the lurch, we will give you some decent warm-up’ - and one way or the other we will honour that.”

Vaughan is reluctant to schedule a practice match because that would mean taking 16 players out of a domestic competition already minus the New Zealand one-day players and New Zealand A, who will be playing England Lions.

Last year there was uproar when England bowler Jimmy Anderson turned out for Auckland but Vaughan said the situation this time was different.

“This is slightly different because it is almost a deal to get them here for three Tests,” Vaughan said.

“I wish there was a better way to do it, we are still evaluating the options. We haven’t reached a final decision on it, it will probably be next week.

“My board is considering it at the moment and I’ve talked briefly to the major associations about it. I understand if there is some opposition to it.”

If the proposal is given the go-ahead, the Indians are likely to play in the State Championship round that runs between March 6 and March 9.

Wellington are scheduled to play Otago in Dunedin, Canterbury will host Central Districts in Rangiora and Northern Districts will play Auckland in Whangarei.