GUWAHATI: The Meghalaya cricket team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy was announced on Thursday, marking a historic day as the state will be taking part in the senior category tournament of BCCi for the first time.
The senior selection committee of Meghalaya Cricket Association announced the list of 15 players to represent the state in the tournament starting in Gujarat from September 19.
The team will be led by Jason Lamare while Punit Singh Bisht, who I’d the BCCI approved guest player will be the vice captain. The others are Mark Ingty, Amiangshu Sen, Sylvester Mylliempdah, Gurinder Singh(guest Playter – BCCI approved), Chengkam Sangma, Yogesh Nagar(Guest Player – BCCI approved), Abhay Negi, Raj Biswa, Lakhan Singh, Bablu Passah, Wallambok Nonngkhlaw, Dipu Sangma and RajeshTati(WK).
Meghalaya will be participating for the first time in the –ODI; Ranji Trophy – innings format of the tournament. The state will also take part for the first time in the Mustaq Ali Trophy – T20 format.
“The team announced today is the first from the state and historic in many aspects. The status granted to Meghalaya has been accorded after years of struggle and hard work undertaken to convince the Board regarding the potential in Meghalay and other Northeast states and the availability of talent and possibility of harnessing them with right support and infrastructure development,” Meghalaya Cricket Association secretary, Naba Bhattacharjee said.
Along with Meghalaya, five other Northeast NADP states, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim were organised under the banner of North East Cricket Development Committee initiated by Bhattacharjee as convener.
“My vision and mission is to further motivate and encourage youths from the indigenous communities of our state, both in urban and rural areas to take up cricket in earnest. The participation of girls are more encouraging from areas like Nongstoin, Mairang, Mawsynram, Sohra, Phulbari and Resubelpara,” Bhattacharjee told The Shillong Times on Thursday.
