GUWAHATI, Dec 1 - He had been the highest wicket-taker for Assam in Ranji Trophy. And the 34-year-old off-spinner is going to bid adieu from the first class cricket after the ongoing Assam-Bengal Ranji Trophy match. He is Arlen Konwar, the right-arm slow bowler who made his Ranji debut in the 2001-02 season and played his last match against Services in Guwahati last season.
During his 15-year Ranji Trophy journey, he took 212 first class wickets in 69 matches with an average of 29. He has been the only bowler from Assam to take more than 200 first class wickets.
It has been learnt that Arlen has already written to the Assam Cricket Association about his desire to hang up his boots after the Assam-Bengal match.
The sturdy spinner from Sivasagar, although was not in the playing eleven in the ongoing match, does not have any regret for this. An employee of the Northeast Frontier Railway, Arlen also scored 622 runs with 34 being the highest.
Expressing his gratefulness to the Assam Cricket Association and the NF Railway, Arlen said he would like to thank the State cricket body and his employer for giving him the opportunity to carry on the game. �It�s all because of their encouragement and cooperation what I am today,� said the cricketer who has taken five wickets in an innings on eleven occasions, besides one 10-wicket match haul.
