GUWAHATI, Nov 14 - Former Assam Ranji Trophy player Hemanga Baruah died at the International hospital here at the wee hours today. He was 49.
Baruah, an employee of the Oil India Limited, played for Assam in Vijay Marcheant Trophy in the year 1980. In 1982 he represented Assam in Coach Behar Trophy and CK Nayudu Trophy.
A brilliant medium pacer, Hemanga made his Ranji debut against Bihar at Nowgaon in the 1984-85 season and took 5 wickets in his first innings (5/52). He played 20 Ranji matches and has taken 50 wickets. His best bowling figure was 5/38 against Tripura. He also scored 289 runs with 49 not out being the highest. Hemanga also played for the Indian school team against West Indies school team and took the wicket of Brian Lara at the Nehru Stadium here in the year 1984.
All the members of the Assam Cricket Association along with president Gautam Roy, secretary Bikash Baruah, senior member Niloy Dutta, Veteran Cricket Association of Assam, Association for Cricketers of Assam condoled the untimely demise of the cricketer who was also the working president of the Association for Cricketers of Assam. Organisations like Gauhati Town Club, Assam Sepak Takraw Association, Assam Table Tennis Association also condoled the death.
