ranji trophy

Guwahati, Nov. 24: The Assam Cricket Association (ACA) reposed faith in the team that represented the state in the previous two Ranji Trophy matches against Orissa and Gujarat to take on Punjab at the Nehru Stadium here from Wednesday.

However, the selectors have called up Pankaj Tamuli as additional bowler.

The selectors met here on Sunday and decided to retain the 14-member team with the addition of Tinsukia off-spinner Pankaj Tamuli.

“He is brought into the team to strengthen the spin department,” ACA secretary Bikash Baruah told The Telegraph.

With Mumbai batsmen Manoj Joglekar and Kiran Pawar doing commendable service in their new assignment, the Assam batting line-up has been satisfactory to the selectors in the last two matches. However, the bowling attack required additional force, sources said.

Assam rode on swashbuckling centuries by Joglekar and Pawar in the first match against Orissa at the NF Railway Sports Association stadium here early this month.

The hosts won the match on the basis of their first innings lead according to the new rules.

They lost the second match against Gujarat at Valsad under the same rule.

In bowling, with Sukhwinder Singh and paceman Zaved Zaman failing to click, Arlen Konwar had done wonders by scalping six wickets in the first match against Orissa.

The selectors hoped that Tamuli would come handy in strengthening the spin attack. “Pankaj has been bowling consistently well for the past couple of years and we hope he will click against Punjab,” one of the selectors said.

The selectors did not rule out the possibility of changes in the playing eleven.

Assam Team

Zakaria Zuffri (captain/wicketkeeper), Parag Das, Manoj Joglekar, Kiran Pawar, Sumit Ranjan Das, Sunil Visw-anathan, Mark Ingti, Zaved Zaman, Sukhwinder Singh, Arlen Konwar, Mrigen Talukdar, Sourav Bhagawati, R.K. Mritunjoy Gohain, Mansor Ahmed and Pankaj Tamuli. Coach: Lalchand Rajput. Manager: Sanjay Dey.