Guwahati, Dec. 1: The cricketing fraternity in Assam today appealed for an end to the participation of outstation players in various age group teams from the state.
A seminar on ways for development of the game in the state and participation of outstation players, organised by the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) at Barsapara Cricket Stadium today, called for the grooming of local players from the grassroots level as the state hardly has the bench strength to name a full squad in any age group.
In a PowerPoint presentation, senior selector and former first class player Nagesh Singh said selectors were often left groping for eligible players. He attributed it to the lack of professional approach among the players.
Former Ranji skipper Syed Zakaria Zuffri lamented the fact that outstation players were being named in the state junior teams, too.
“It is very disappointing when you see outstation players at the junior level teams. If we pick up an outstation player eligible enough we don’t have anything to say, but that doesn’t mean we get a player from Nagaland who is not eligible enough,” he said.
“Although we went on to clinch the under-19 girls’ national title this year, I have reservations about the team. Most of the players in the side were outstation recruits and I don’t think it gave us the much needed satisfaction,” added former player Partha Sarathi Hazarika.
Another former Ranji cricketer, Naren Sabhapandit, said, “Only opting for outstation recruits doesn’t help us. If an outstation recruit dose not perform, then we have got serious concerns. One thing we need to improve upon is the pitch and ground conditions along with genuine practice turfs across the state,” Sabhapandit said.
Demonstration: A section of former players staged a demonstration at Mangaldoi stadium, protesting the presence of several allegedly outstation players in the Assam under-19 team, reports our correspondent from Mangaldoi.
The former players staged the sit-in under the banner of the new-formed Association for Cricketers of Assam. Some of the players include former Ranji players Hemanga Baruah, Syed Zakaria Zuffri, Dipak Das, Amar Deka, Zameer Alam, Pankaj Kalita, Bhaskar Jyoti Barman and Kangkan Saharia.
