(From top) Arlen Konwar, Palashjyoti Das and Dhiraj Goswami

Guwahati, Jan. 18: Seasoned spinner Arlen Konwar and top order batsman Palashjyoti Das have been named in the East Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy to be held next month.

All-rounder Dhiraj Goswami, who was a leading wicket taker for Assam in the last Ranji season, has been named among the standbys for the squad named in Calcutta today.

Moreover, Assam Cricket Academy chief coach and zonal selector Rajesh Borah has been appointed manager of the squad, which will open its campaign against South Zone in Mumbai on February 3 to 6. East Zone will next meet North Zone in Baroda from February 11 to 14.

Staging a comeback with a century in the last Ranji Trophy match against Tripura last month, former junior international Palashjyoti Das caught the attention of the zonal selectors with his latest form as a reliable batsman. Das could also be a part-time spinner.

Konwar booked a berth in the squad despite not being among the wickets in the last season, as the selectors took into account his consistency and his commitment towards the game, said selector Rajesh Borah.

Konwar could claim only seven wickets from five matches to join the 100 wicket-takers club in the last Ranji season.

He had been one of the leading wicket takers from the zone with over 20 wickets every season for three consecutive seasons ever since he made his first class debut in 2001.

Konwar had last year joined the Indian Cricket League but later pulled out with a resolve to make it to the elite club of 100 wicket-takers in first class cricket.

Konwar had been quoted as saying that he was disappointed by the East Zone selection as his consistent performance in the earlier three seasons were always overlooked in naming squads for Duleep Trophy and Deodhar Trophy.

Assam Cricket Association secretary Bikash Baruah said it was not only an achievement for Konwar but also for the ACA “as we had promised that his grievance would taken up with the zonal selectors”.

Borah, however, said the selectors were convinced by Konwar’s statistics.

“With Borah in the team management, we hope both will be in the playing XI, unlike on earlier occasions when players like Abu Naschim Ahmed had to sit out. Moreover, we hope Dhiraj will also play if any of the fast bowlers pull out,” Baruah added.