UP camp begins on a ‘positive note’
LUCKNOW: It seems to be a ‘positive start’ for former India cricketer Sujith Somasundar as new head coach of Uttar Pradesh’s senior team.
The man, who is known for his work on sport’s mental aspect, looked confident in his job on the second day of his stint with Suresh Raina and Co lasted long in the camp here.
Sujith as well as team’s new bowling and fielding coach Mansur Ali Khan were seen interacting with players, including Raina, who owns a big responsibility to guide the team coming back on winning ways, especially after a pathetic season in the Ranji Trophy where team finished second from bottom.
Almost five hours of training, including a match between the batsmen and the bowlers at the practice ground of the Ekana International Cricket Stadium, witnessed coach Sujith and Raina trying all combinations. The four-day camp ends on Friday as the team would leave for Raipur where they will play their opening match of Mushtaq Ali Trophy Twenty20 zonal league on Sunday.
Key players all-rounder Akshdeep Nath, leggie Zeeshan Ansari and Rinku Singh were absent from the training on Wednesday as they had reportedly gone to Mumbai to attend the trials for Mumbai Indians’ for the next season of the Indian Premier League.
“Three players missed the training today as they have gone to Mumbai for IPL trials. Hopefully, they will join the camp tomorrow,” said a UPCA official. He confirmed that team practice over the next two days would be done in the main stadium as the field was wet on Wednesday.