Sunil Joshi to coach Assam

By our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 15: Assam Cricket Association appointed former test cricketer Sunil Joshi as its new coach for its senior team. Joshi will replace Sath Kumar.

The Governing Body meeting of the Assam Cricket Association was held today at the Barsapara cricket stadium complex. The meeting, which was presided over by its president Himanta Biswa Sarma, has taken several important decisions which included the appointment of Sunil Joshi as a coach.

Last year Assam made an excellent performance under the coaching of Sath Kumar and many felt that Assam Cricket Association will entrust the same responsibility to him once again. But ACA ‘convinced’ with Joshi’s thinking and plans related to team’s preparation for the coming season.

Talking to The Sentinel Pradip Buragohain, the secretary of the Assam Cricket Association, said,“We are highly satisfied with the appointment of Joshi as we know his credentials. We are convinced about his plan to take forward the team.”

There was news that Kumar this time increase his rate very high and it was the reason that ACA had gone for altertive arrangement. When raised this point Buragohain said,“ Only thing I can say that everyone in the committee felt that Joshi is the best option for the post of senior team coach.”

Joshi, who is in the city, later meet the few members of the senior team. Gokul Sharma, who led Assam to semi fils last season, was one of them. When contacted Gokul said, “It’s a good discussion. He is very interested to take forward our good performance in the coming season. Coach also felt that there is good potential in our team and we should utilize it best possible way.”

Meanwhile new selection committees for the coming season were also constituted in today’s meeting. Satyagopal Chakraborty, Dhruva Sabhapandit, Niranjan Das and KK Barua will be the members of senior selection committee. The junior slection committee will also have four members-Pritamm Konwar, vajyoti Mohan, Ramit Paul and Sujay Dutta Roy. Four members women selection committee included-Manoj Bhagawati, Rita Baidya, Rajani Basnet and Parashmoni Cheleng. On the other hand former captain of Assam Ranji team Gautam Dutta and Mriganka Barman included in the Governing body as a nominee of president.

 It was also decided to introduce few cricket competitions in the state so that local players can get more match practice. The ACA will also organize a cricket workshop within next three to four months and will improve the standard of its cricket academy at per the NCA.

It should be mentioned that the former left arm spinner Joshi coached Hyderabad and Jammu & Kashmir Ranji teams in recent years.