4 junior cricketers do the state proud

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh cricket has never had it so good. Four youngsters on the team to Pakistan for the under-19 four-nation one-day trophy in Karachi from October 31 is windfall for any state. And when such a bounty is Uttar Pradesh’s, there are reasons to feel happy about.
There is nothing unusual if Mumbai, Bangalore or even Delhi has that kind of representation.But, it certainly has the cricket fraternity here pleasantly surprised to learn of the achievement.
It is a clear indication that the state’s cricket stock is looking up. Thanks to the sports hostels and sports college, after all these years, UP is in a position to hold its head high. Suresh Raina, Shivakant Shukla (both all-rounders) Piyush Chawla (lef-spinner) and Avinash Yadav (left-arm spinner) are the four who will represent the Indian team, led by Hyderabad’s Ambati Rayudu. Six UP players were called to attend the camp and the two who got left out were left-arm medium pace bowler Rudra Pratap Singh and Tahir Abbas.
It may be mentioned here that Singh had made headlines recently when Indian captain Sourav Ganguly showere praise on him when he played for the India A team against visiting New Zealand in Rajkot in a warm-up game.
But for reasons known to the selectors, he could not find a place in the team to Pakistan, despite doing well in the trials matches in Mumbai.
Left-handed batsman and right arm-spinner Suresh Raina was excited and wanted to get the blessings from his mentor Deepak Sharma. Last year, Raina passed out of the Guru Gobind Singh Sports College. His coach Sharma was elated at the achievement of his ward. “Raina is an excellent prospect. He has a good all-round potential to play at the higher level.�
“Raina’s debut was in the Ranji Trophy against Assam in the Elite group last year. He played a knock of 40-plus to prove his worth. The lad has patienceand perseverance to play long innings. Along with his all-round ability, he is a superb fielder,� added Sharma.
A former state selector, Ashok Bambi feels that these youngsters should be encouraged and included in the Ranji Trophy team without much delay.
“Uttar Pradesh is now centre for junior cricketers. But the UPCA’s attitude towards nurturing these youngsters is very callous.
“Players like Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar have been lavishing praises on the UP junior cricketers for long. But the state association is reluctant to blood them into the senior team at the right time.
Bambi, whose forte was patience, said that all of them are gifted players. But the UP selectors should put them into higher teams to groom them,� commented the former Ranji Trophy player, also a former selector himself.