UP look to continue winning streak
LUCKNOW: Slow and steady wins the race, the saying proved true for Uttar Pradesh’s Ranji Trophy keeper-batsman Mohd Amir Khan during his 10-year career which ended in 2013.
With 263 victims behind the wicket in as many as 94 domestic matches, Amir was instrumental in rescuing the team from trouble on many occasions. He was known for his slow batting during his days but always remained a pillar for the team.
After having two catches in his last match against Railways here in 2013, Amir chose to share his knowledge with the junior cricketers of the state and even in his first year of assignment as coach of the under-19 team, the veteran cricketer from Kanpur helped the side emerged victorious in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy one-dayers.
In the last season too, Amir’s magic continued as Uttar Pradesh finished runners-up in the Central Zone behind Vidarbha and many of his players made it to the upper grade this season. While a few made it to the senior cricket squads of the state, others made it to the Indian squad for this year’s Asian Cricket Council’s Asia Cup.
“No worries at all as we have plenty of young talent to fill the vacancies,” said Amir on the eve of the Uttar Pradesh’s junior cricket season, which begins with the Vinoo Mankad Trophy match against Assam at Surat on Saturday.
“We are a balanced side and it remains a regular scene with junior cricket. Every season, you get new faces to groom,” said Amir, adding, “Our mission is to continue our last year’s winning streak to this year’s too.”
In the Elite Group A, UP will have to battle against some top teams like Karnataka and Mumbai but for Amir they would like any other side in the game.
“I have told the boys to play their natural game and don’t bother about the opposition. We believe in ourselves and I know how good my boys are,” he said.
He sounded happy over the reintroduction of old system where instead of zonal system teams would be playing in the knockout also. “Boys are happy that they would be getting eight matches to showcase their abilities,” said Amir.
UP TEAM
Aryan Sharma (captain), Kritagya Singh, Shivam Bansal, Harsh Tyagi, Sameer Rizvi, Ankur Malik, Anjaynay Suryavansi, Dhruve Jurel (w-k), Shivam Sharma, Pratham Mishra, Purnank Tyagi, Kunal Yadav, Akshay Sain, Suryakant Chauhan, Pranjal Saini (w-k), Ankit Rai, Bhaskar Mani Tripathi. Manager: Satish Jaiswal.