GUWAHATI, Sept 26 - The Assam Cricket Association (ACA) has announced the Ranji Trophy team for first two matches today.
Naming the players in a press conference here today, ACA secretary Pradip Buragohain said as this year�s Ranji Trophy matches will be played in neutral venues, they have decided to announce the team for the first two matches to be played against Delhi at Baroda from October 6 to 9 and Rajasthan which will be played at Vizag from October 13 to 16.
Allrounder Gokul Sharma has been retained as captain of the team.
Chief coach Sunil Joshi said he is satisfied with the pool of players and hoped that the team would perform better. Although he was not quite satisfied with the exposure tour to Chandigarh, where rain played the spoilsport during a tournament there, Joshi revealed that all the players are in positive mood and raring to go in the new season.
Joshi said that the team will not be under pressure despite playing in neutral venues as all the players have enough experience. He further said as a former Team India player he will utilise his experience at the need of the hour. �We have five to six left handed players which is an additional advantage for the team,� said the chief coach.
ACA vice president Devojit Saikia said that the final decision on the playing XI will be taken by the think tank of the team, comprising the chief coach, captain, few senior players among others on the match day considering the ground condition.
Joshi said he does not have any specific strategy for players like Delhi captain Gautam Gambhir who is in tremendous form.
Asked on the omission of talented medium pacer Mrinmoy Dutta, selection committee chairman Satyagopal Chakraborty said Mrinmoy will be in the U-23 team and as this team has been announced for first two matches only, Mrinmoy will be included later if he performs in the age-group category.
The team: Gokul Sharma (capt), KB Arun Karthik, (vice capt), Amit Varma, Syed Mohammed, Pallav Kr Das, Rahul Hazarika, Sarupam Purkayastha, Krishna Das, Arup Das, Dhiraj Goswami, Sib Sankar Roy, Tarjinder Singh, Rishav Das, Kunal Saikia (wk), Abu Nechim Ahmed.
Chief coach: Sunil Joshi; Manager: Imdad Hussain; Batting coach: Subhrajit Saikia; Fielding coach: Subhadeep Ghosh; Physio: Dr Parvez Bhati; Trainer: Naresh Ramadoss; Video analyst: Rajesh Sharma; Masseur: Anup Das.
