(From left) Debabrata Roy, Krishnendu Das, Pranjal Tamuly, Dipankar Das and Prantar Sarma selected for the final phase of Ranji trials at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday. Picture by Biju Boro

Guwahati, Oct. 12: The final phase of selection trials for the Assam Ranji team got under way at Nehru Stadium here today.

Five fresh faces — batsmen Pranjal Tamuly, Prantar Sarma, Krishnendu Das and bowlers Debabrata Roy and Dipankar Das —joined the 22 of the 24 probables named earlier for the camp.

The five rookies have been selected from 28 probables, who took part in a three-day trial from October 9.

Wicket keeper-batsman Tamuly and his brother Pankaj were instrumental in Tinsukia playing last year’s Nuruddin Ahmed trophy inter-district.

They gave an impressive performance in the Nurul Amin trophy. Similarly, Guwahati wicket keeper-batsman Prantar Sarma, too, had an impressive season last year.

Silchar batsman Krishnendu Das and paceman Debabrata Roy had eventful seasons, helping the side to enter the last eight stage of Nuruddin Trophy. Nagaon spinner Dipankar Das made useful contributions last year.

Among the 24 named earlier, all-rounder Khanin Saikia and paceman Zaved Zaman have pulled out of the camp. Saikia will appear for his college examinations while Zaman is unfit with a knee injury, which he suffered last season, Assam Cricket Association (ACA) secretary Bikash Baruah said.

Sources said that though Zaman’s injury was in the process of healing, it deteriorated again during the recent bid on his life at his hometown Dhubri.

Saikia, a promising batsman-cum-left-arm spinner, had to skip his BCom Part I examinations last year, too, as it clashed with the cricketing season.

Two others, Utpal Medhi and Bachan Singh, have submitted their fitness certificates on the ACA’s instructions, Baruah said.

The first part of the final phase of the camp will be conducted by Assam Cricket Academy head coach Kamal Das, as the newly-appointed coach Ashok Malhotra will arrive here only on October 20. Physio Biraj Bist will join the team by October 14, ACA sources said.

The final team will be named by November 11, Baruah added. Assam will meet Gujarat in their first outing here from November 15.

According to ACA sources, the apex body has also established contact with Ganesh Kumar, who played for Assam last season, and asked him to join the side this time again.

SAI stipend

Altogether 73 sportspersons will be awarded Sports Authority of India (SAI) scholarships for outstanding performances in various disciplines during 2002-03 at the SAI new field sports complex here on Monday. The national-level awardees will receive Rs 7,200 per head and state-level players will get Rs 5,400 each.