BA will become the first foreign team in eight years to feature in the prestigious Durand Cup at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi, India this August.

The Men In Black have been invited to play in the month long tournament which feature 30 teams.

Muktijoddha Krira Chakra of Dhaka and Bhutan XI were the last foreign teams to participate in the tournament in 2000.

The Durand Cup which was started by Sir Mortimer Durand in Simla in 1888 is the third oldest football tournament after the English and the Scottish FA Cups.

Ba Football Association president Rishi Kumar said they are proud to be part of a historical event.

Kumar said the visa arrangements for the Ba to travel to India were in the process.

He said Ba was going to India with the hopes of the nation.

"We will be representing the whole country and not Ba as a district," Kumar said.

"This is an exciting trip and it is a first for any district in the country."

Durand Cup secretary Joginder Singh told the website www.hindu.com that it was a big boost to have a team with the credentials of Ba playing in their tournament.

The tournament will begin with a qualifying round of 18 teams on August 8.

The main round of competition will start on August 18.

Four teams from the qualifying round will proceed to the pre-quarterfinals, where they will be joined by 12 directly seeded teams.

Royal Scots Fusiliers won the inaugural Durand cup in 1888 defeating Highland Light Infantry score 2-1.