Ranji Trophy: Assam Face Goa From Today At The ACA stadium, Barsapara

GUWAHATI: Assam will take on lowly placed Goa in their elite group ‘C’ Ranji Trophy tie from today. The game will be held at the ACA stadium, Barsapara.

Although there is no academic interest in this game as both the teams are already out from the contention but state cricket lovers would definitely keep their eyes in this game as former pacer from Assam Krishna Das will represent visitors and play against his ‘home team’.

Krishna, who joined Goa this season, attended final net session with his team this morning at the ACA Stadium Barsapara. Talking with The Sentinel the pacer, who recently collected 150 wickets in the first class cricket, said,” It is obviously not good feeling to play against my own team. However Now I am a professional cricketer and I have to control my emotion. I will try my best to help Goa with ball.”

The pace bowler missed a couple of matches this season because of injury but he today confirmed that there is no more fitness problem and he is ready for the game.

It may be mentioned here that Amit Verma, who once turned up for Assam as an outstation recruit, will also feature Goa team in this match.

Goa, however, failed to make good performance this season in the Ranji Trophy. The side played six matches till date, collected only six points and are placed in last position in the points table.

Meanwhile Assam made one change in their team and brought in batsman Biplab Saikia in place of Rajjak Uddin. The team sources hinted that he could be included in the first XI as the team is considering to strengthen batting further.

Talking to The Sentinel after the net session Zakaria Zuffri, the head coach, said,” Team is ready for the next game. We have not decided the final XI and will take decision in this regard tomorrow morning.” However he confirmed that Arup Das, who was rested in the last game, would return into the first XI.

Captain Amit Sinha is not satisfied with team batting and said that batsmen should give 300-350 runs on the board. “This season we did well in all those matches where we scored around 300 runs in the first innings. Hee too we need to do similar performance. Our bowlers are doing good job but it’s unfortunate that batsmen were not matched at per to them.”

Assam are placed in 6th position in the points table with 14 points.

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