Krish, Arup should continue good work with ball'

By our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 24: Former team India member Venkatesh Prasad is impressed with the ideas put forward by new president of the Assam Cricket Association Himanta Biswa Sarma on the development of cricket in Assam during a meeting today.

Prasad is in the city along with his former teammate Sunil Joshi to attend a function organized by Cara Bank.  Both are the employees of this bank. During this visit they also meet Assam Fince Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today.

Talking to the media persons in the side line of the meeting, organized by Cara bank this afternoon in a city hotel, Prasad, who played 33 tests and 161 ODI for India, said, “We meet Assam Fince Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today and discussed on different subjects. Later cricket too became the part of it”

He added, “Both Sunil and me talked to him nearly 10 minutes on how a good road map can be prepared to develop cricket in Assam. I am impressed with the ideas put forward by Sarma during the meeting.”

Prasad, who is the chairman of BCCI’s Junior Selection Committee, recently visited Shillong to attend the tiol Cricket Academy camp. The camp was organised by the BCCI to select budding cricketers from this region who will later get the opportunity to train in the NCA. Replying a question the former pacer said,“ There is no dearth of talents in the North East. The budding players of this region now only need good infrastructure, proper coaching and competitive cricket.”

Last season Assam created history by entering into the semi fils of the Ranji trophy cricket tourment. Two pacers of the State -Krish Das and Arup Das performed creditably and helped Assam to finish among the top four teams of the country. However both were ignored by the Indian selectors. But Prasad feels there is nothing to get upset. “I shall advice them not to lose heart and try to continue similar performance in the coming season also. Selectors will be bound to call them in the team,” said Prasad.

Recalling his episode with Amir Sohail during 1996 World cup former bowling coach of Team India said with laugh, “That was not a scripted incident. It was happened just heat of the moment.” It may be mentioned here that Sohail sledged openly Prasad after hitting a boundary in the knock out game which was held in Bangaluru. Prasad gave him reply after bowled him in the very next ball.

Meanwhile Sunil Joshi, the former all rounder of team India, today recalled his superb performance which he had done at the Nehru stadium against New Zealand in 1999. Although India lost the tie but Sunil (61no) contributed heavily with bat. Recalling that match in the programmes Joshi said,“ I can never forget Guwahati as I had made one of my best performances in this city. ”

Both Prasad and Joshi today advocated on starting bilateral series between Pakistan and India.  “It should be held on regular basis. Whenever two countries faced each other it was cricket that won,” said the duo. Apart from Prasad and Joshi, today’s meeting was also attended by Sekhar Kumar Haldar, DGM of Cara Bank, Guwahati.