Guwahati, Nov. 6: Assam Cricket Association (ACA) joint secretary Sanatan Das, who approved the team that will take on Haryana in a Ranji Trophy match that starts tomorrow, expressed surprise today on learning that all-rounder Dhiraj Goswami had travelled with the squad, as the 16th member, to Lahli in Rohtak.

"The 15-member team I have signed and circulated is the official squad for the match. I am not aware of Goswami accompanying the team. Maybe, he has gone on his own to cheer the team, which I cannot and shouldn't stop," Das, who is authorised to look after the administrative affairs of the ACA in the absence of its secretary, said.

The secretary of ACA, Bikash Baruah, is currently on leave.

Team manager Sanjiv Handique, however, confirmed that Goswami had travelled to Haryana as part of the team and was staying with the squad.

"Altogether 16 players are there in the squad. I am not sure who will be the final 15 for the match tomorrow. The selectors and coach will take a call on it," Handique told The Telegraph over phone.

Selector Mukut Das said Goswami was added to the squad on the insistence of coach Sanath Kumar.

"The coach, who was on a brief leave at the time of selection, had insisted that Goswami should be there in the squad for the Haryana match and so we named him as an additional player. There is a provision for the 16th player in the squad, provided the state association bears his expenses," Das said.

Kumar had told this newspaper before the season that the six-footer Goswami would be an effective pacer in Haryana where the wickets are bouncy. He, however, did not communicate the same to the selectors, they claimed. "It (the confusion) is due to a communication gap between us and the coach," admitted Das.

Goswami is the sixth pacer and third all-rounder in the squad. Abu Nechim Ahmed, Krishna Das, Arup Das, Pritam Das and Pallav Das are the other fast bowlers while Syed Mohammad and Swarupam Purkayastha are all-rounders.

ACA insiders, however, indicated that the communication gap was within the ACA top brass and not among the selectors and coach, hinting that there was some interference from the top brass for the additional inclusion in the squad.