The Lancashire Cricket Board's long-standing feud with the Lancashire League could be a factor behind the small number of the league's players named in the LCB 1999 training squad.

That's the belief of Jack Houldsworth, assistant secretary of Church CC and an opponent of the LCB's Premier League plans which have also been opposed by the Lancashire League.

Only two players currently with Lancashire League clubs - Enfield's Russell Edmonds and Mark Stewart of Ramsbottom - have been named in the LCB preliminary squad of around 30, compared with four from the Ribblesdale League and four from Northern League club Chorley alone.

And Houldsworth said: "My feeling is that it's possibly the degree of difference of opinion between the us and them over the issue of the Premier League.

"At this stage there is no obvious way out of the impasse." The Lancashire League was not interested in becoming the LCB's Premier League under the current guidelines proposed by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The Liverpool Competition has taken on Premier status for Lancashire.

Former Darwen professional Nikhil Chopra has been named in India's provisional squad for the World Cup.

Chopra, who left Darwen half-way through last season following his call-up for an international one-day tournament, is named in a 19-man squad which will be trimmed to 15 in a fortnight's time.

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