Duleep Trophy 2022: Northeast Zone squad announced; only local players included

Featuring in the prestigious tournament for the first time as a zone, the northeast selectors decided to go ahead with 15 home-grown talents and not keep any of the guest cricketers in the squad.

FILE PHOTO: Arunachal Pradesh batter Techi Doria was named in the first-ever Northeast Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy. | Photo Credit: THE HINDU

When the Northeast zone team participates in the Duleep Trophy next month, the team will comprise only local players.

Featuring in the prestigious tournament for the first time as a zone, the northeast selectors decided to go ahead with 15 home-grown talents and not keep any of the guest cricketers, who usually play for the teams in the Ranji Trophy and other tournaments, in the squad.

“The meeting of the selectors and office-bearers was very cordial and everyone expressed their suggestion and opinion. A matured decision was taken by the house to select only local players for Duleep Trophy,” the convenor of the committee Lobzang Tenzing said in a statement.

While Jonathan Rongsen from Nagaland and Manipur’s Rajkumar Rex Singh are some of the key names in the squad, it also features Bishworjit Singh Konthoujam, Techi Doria among others.

The northeast teams have been playing the BCCI-accredited First-Class and List A tournaments since 2018.

NORTHEAST ZONE SQUAD

Ashish Thapa, Techi Neri, Rongsen Jonathan, Kishan Lyngdoh, Ankur Malik, Bishworjit Konthoujam, G Lalbiakvela, Rex Rajkumar, Khrievitso Kense, Techi Doria, Dippu Sangma, Hokaito Zhimomi, L Kishan Singha, Bobby Zothansanga, Al Bashid Muhammed.