MCA in quandry over recruitment of probables

Pune, July 6 (UNI) The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) is in a quandary over recruitment of outstation professionals for Ranji Trophy and other age-group tournaments as four of them are on the injured list.

Announcing probables for Ranji Trophy and other age-group tournaments, MCA President Ajay Shirke said that the names of last season's captain Sairaj Bahutule, former captain Hrishikesh Kanitkar, S Sriram, Dheeraj Jadhav and Munaf Patel have been kept in abeyance for different reasons.

Mr Shirke told UNI that Bahutule and Kanitkar had undergone surgeries and the association was awaiting their fitness reports.

Sriram is away playing county cricket in England and Munaf's availability depends on his fitness and his selection for the India side.

In view of the present situation, the MCA has decided to buy some time to take the final decision pertaining to the selection of the professionals,'' he explained.

While Bahutule underwent an operation on his bowling arm about a month-and-half ago, Kanitkar had an arthroscopy done on his right knee just 10 days back, Shrike said.

As regards Dheeraj Jadhav, a clarification has been sought from him by the MCA secretary following a news being circulated in the cricketing circles that he (Jadhav) is contemplating playing for the Indian Cricket League (ICL) floated by Zee.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not recognised the parallel league and has notified all affiliated units that stringent action will be mooted against those who flout the rule.

The Board has not approved the parallel league as yet. In turn, we have asked a clarification from Dheeraj and his selection has been kept in abeyance till then,'' Mr Shrike elaborated.

Meanwhile, all those who have been selected for the camp will start their fitness training and other programmes under their respective coaches and overall guidance of Chandrakant Pandit from tomorrow.

The selection of the probables has been made from over 2,000 players who played in various age-groups and in the senior invitation leagues in the last five months.

Those selected are: Under-22: Rohit Kakde, Solomon Chopde, Amey Shrikhande, Prem Ahire, Pravin Deshetty, Nikhil Paradkar, Deepak Shilamkar, Sangram Atitkar, Ganesh Gaikwad, Vaibhav Irabatti, Uday Patil, Rakesh Ubale, Ajjnkya Joshi, Jaswinder Katnoria, Rohit Jadhav, Aditya Dole, Mandar Chiplunkar, Kishor Bikane, Sunil Patel.

Seniors: Kunal Marathe, Kedar Jadhav, Dhruv Mohan, Vishal Bhilare, Ranjit Chavan, Yogesh Takwale, Satyajit Satbhai, Anupam Sanklecha, Samad Fallah, Salil Agarkar, Digambar Waghmare.

Probables for under-15, under-17 and under-19 have also been named.

UNI