Pritam Das. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Oct. 23: Promising fast bowler and Ranji probable Pritam Das left Silchar to join the Assam under-19 team in Calcutta this afternoon.

Manager of the under-22 team, Chandan Sharma, told The Telegraph that the youth’s inclusion would strengthen the team for the Vinoo Mankad meet. The Pervez Aziz-led Assam squad will play Tripura on Tuesday.

An ACA official assured that no player would be sent back from Calcutta and Pritam would be the 15th member of the team. “We want to give him as many matches as possible to help him gain experience. Given his pace and movement, he has a very good chance of breaking into the senior team,” he said.

The enterprising bowler was instrumental in a vital breakthrough when Orissa were just 15 short of overhauling the hosts’ first innings total of 245 in the C.K. Nayudu Trophy match yesterday. It was also Pritam’ only wicket of the match.

Sharma said Pritam’s absence would give other bowlers like Dhiraj Goswami, Pankaj Saikia and Ranjit Mali a chance to prove their mettle. “We will miss him but then we have to look at the positive side. It gives a chance to others,” Sharma added.

The inclusion of Pritam in the under-19 side has come as a big opportunity for Goswami, who is trying to stage a comeback into the senior side after a hiatus of a couple of years.

The next three-day match is at Goalpara against Jharkhand from October 27.

Biswajit Mukherjee is the coach of the team that will reach Guwahati tomorrow. There will be a stock-taking of the team’s performance by selectors and ACA officials before it leaves for Goalpara.