GUWAHATI, June 22 - After a glorious last season which witnessed the Assam team cruise into the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy, some of the senior players are not taking things lightly and are busy focusing on their fitness during the off-season.
Although the Assam Cricket Association�s (ACA) fitness camp is yet to start, some of the senior players along with other age group players have already started their preparations with the off-season training. The players seem to be well motivated for the upcoming season and have been concentrating on their fitness despite the gym being not in the perfect shape after it was shifted to the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
Senior batsman Sib Sankar Roy talking about the importance of off-season training said: �It�s a very important season for us as we played the semifinals last season. We have already started our preparations and hopefully we will do even better in this upcoming season.�
Talking about the batting department, Roy said: �I am focusing on not repeating those mistakes which I made last season. In the last season it was a laudable for a few batsman. I am focusing on the lower body strengthening under Tauhid Ali Talukdar at present.�
Regarding BCCI�s plans of hosting all Ranji Trophy matches at neutral venues, Roy said: �If it happens it will be good because no one will be able to complain then.�
The NCA qualified trainer of BCCI, Tauhid Ali Talukdar is taking care of the player in the off season training at the Barsapara stadium here.
Another senior player Dhiraj Goswami said: �It�s the preparation which we are doing ahead of the fitness camp. During the fitness camp ahead of the season the trainer will give us a number of tests. One has to maintain fitness and if its below average then you may not be selected for the coming season.�
�Fitness is absolutely the most important thing and it has got an impact on every department of the game. To stay in contention, one will definitely need to be physically fit. I had issues with my lower body which was the reason behind my injury so I am focusing on lower body strengthening,� said young Rahul Hazarika.
Talukdar, who has been associated as a trainer with the ACA for the last five years said: �We started up in April and my main focus was to make these players remain injury free for the next season and that they are at the peak. It was strength and conditioning at first and now we are focusing on power training and which is most essential in today�s competitive world of cricket,� said Talukdar.
Other senior players including the likes of Abu Nechim Ahmed, Kunal Saikia, and other age group players like Biplab Saikia, Sahil Jain, Erik Roy and Sohail Rahman among others have been undergoing training during the off-season at Barsapara.
