16-Oct-2008 103
Former India Test batsman Shiv Sundar Das has been retained as the captain of Orissa team for the 2008-09 season of the Elite Division Ranji Trophy Championship.
A 11-member senior selection committee of Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) unanimously chose Das at its meeting in Cuttack on Friday. Panalal Bose was the only member absent in the meeting.
Das, who replaced Pravanjan Mullick midway last season as captain, enabled Orissa retain their place in the Elite group.
The senior selection committee also picked a 15-member team to represent the state in the first two matches of the East Zone C K Nayudu Trophy under-22 tournament.
The team, which included eight new faces, is scheduled to meet Assam in the opening match at Tinsukia from October 23 to 25. Defending East zone champions Orissa next play Tripura at Agartala from October 30 to November 2.
Rourkela all-rounder Atish Jena will lead the team with new-face Biplab Samantaray as his deputy. Other seven new faces include Sandip Mulia, Rajesh Sethy, Subhrajit Sahu, Bibhudutta Panda, Alok Mangaraj, Alok Pradhan and Santosh Sethy.
Batsmen Devraj Kar and Mohammad Azhar, leg-spinner Amrit Priyadarshi and Krushna Mohanty failed to find the selectors` nod despite performing well both in nets and trial matches.
The selection process, involving over 180 players, lasted around a week at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack. It featured four day`s net practice and a couple of limited over trial matches.
The short duration of the entire exercise and the performance of the people in charge raised doubts about a fair selection. Allegations are heard that a selector and a key man of the support staff helped include three undeserving players in the final 15. It will be clear if OCA opens the score book for varification of the cricket fraternity.
Under-22 team:
Atish Jena (capt)
Biplab Samantaray (vice-capt)
Nataraj Behera
Tukuna Sahu
Sandip Mulia
Rajesh Sethy
Ansuman Gope (wk)
Subhrajit Sahu (wk)
Bibhudutta Panda
Alok Mangaraj
Santosh Jena
Dhiraj Singh
Partha Samal
Alok Pradhan
Santosh Sethy.
Manager: Saroj Kumar Sahu
Coach: Dhirendra Kumar Rout
Trainer: Mahesh Kumar Malla.
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