Three HP cricketers make it to national squads

SHIMLA: It may not the beautiful cricket stadium in Dharamshala alone which has brought Himachal Pradesh on to the cricketing map. For, the hill state is slowly producing talent, being picked up in national squad. After the selection of Sushma Verma in India's women team, two boys from the state have now been picked up for under-19 and one for under-23 national squad.
India's under 19-team that will play in Sri Lanka includes two boys from Himachal Pradesh. Selection of Ankush Bains from Una and Pankaj Jaiswal from Kangra for under-19 team and Prashant Chopra of Solan -- who was part of under-19 world cup winning team of 2012 -- in under-23 national team has made the state proud. Following their selection, Ankush and Pankaj have already left for the training camp at Chennai which started from Wednesday. Their selection has led to hopes of Himachali players making it to the national cricketing team sooner or later, sources said.
The under-19 team will play four-day games against Sri Lanka from July 23 to August 1 while three one-day matches would be played between August 4 and 8.
HPCA president Anurag Thakur has described the selection of Ankush and Pankaj in the national squad as a moment of great pride and honour for the state association. "We are committed to provide world class facilities to players. The day is not far when more players of the association will be playing for the nation and the senior team, making us and the state proud," he added.
Though Himachal Pradesh has produced many Ranji players, not a single state player has ever made it to the Indian cricket team. Sushma Verma, who hails from Shimla district, is the lone player who has made it to the Indian women's cricket team.
But now, selection of the two players in U-19 national team has raised hopes about the state cricket players cementing their place in Team India. "It is the infrastructure created in the last ten years and world class coaching provided in a fair and transparent manner that has made this possible," said Vishal Marwaha, secretary, HPCA.