Oct. 28: Assam’s cricket season gets under way with the three-day under-15 Polly Umrigar tie between Assam and Bihar in Tinsukia tomorrow.

As usual, expectations are high, this time more so given the investment and hype surrounding the preparations of the age-group teams.

The Assam Cricket Association (ACA) has invested more than Rs 15 lakh on the preparations including sending the under-15 team on an exposure trip to New Delhi and roping in former world cupper Balwinder Singh Sandhu for a 45-day special coaching camp for the under-15, 17 and 19 teams.

ACA secretary Bikash Baruah was upbeat about the teams’ performances. “I am quite confident that the teams will do well this season,” he said. The under-19 team led by Ranji medium pacer Dhiraj Goswami left for Jamshedpur from Silchar today for its inaugural match against Bihar from October 31.

ACA watchers, however, were guarded in their comments, citing last season’s performance and a few “whimsical” selections. Last season, the under-17 team topped the performance list with 25 points, followed by under-25 (22 points), under-19 (16 points) and under-15 (15 points). Though three coaches have been retained, under-25 coach K.K. Baruah has been replaced by Mukut Das, while there is still no news about who will coach the Ranji team after Ashok Malhotra turned down the ACA’s offer a week back. The ACA, busy with the November 9 ODI between New Zealand and Australia, might take some decisions about the Ranji coach tomorrow. “All the money and hype could come to nought. ACA’s intention was right but it seems it has not been backed by proper planning and selection. The absence of a few key players could cost the teams dear,” an ACA coach said, hoping that his fears are misplaced.

Rishab Das has been ruled out of tomorrow’s under-15 match on health grounds. Assam coach Rajib Rajbongshi, however, appeared confident after a two-and-a-half hour session in Tinsukia. “Our boys are confident and we are looking forward to a positive start. The wicket, too, looks good,” the genial Rajbongshi said.

Under-15 teams

Assam: Sarupam Purkayastha (C), Amjad Ali (Wk), Shib Shankar Roy, Debabrata Sen, Sekharjyoti Barman, Abu Naschim Ahmed, Pritam Das, Deep Bora, Mridul Bordoloi, Rajendra Lal, Sanjeev Dutta, Rinku Ahmed and Utpal Choudhury. Coach — Rajib Rajbongshi

Manager — Safiqul Hussain

Bihar: Rajib Rao (C), Amar Jyoti Ranjan, Ajit Dwivedi, Saurabh Tiwari, Kundan Gupta, Sahil Srivastava, Shib Prakash Gautam (Wk), Mridul Mrishra, Ishank Jaggi, Prasant Rahul, Asish Kumar, Vishwa Ranjan Sarma, Sonal Rai and Prakash Gupta. Coach: Kajal Das. Manager: Imtiaz Hussain.