Visakhapatnam: Fresh from his exploits in the ICC under-19 World Cup in the West Indies and travel weary after hopping across continents, Indian vice-captain Shaik Rasheed landed here on Thursday evening to a low-key reception.
The U-19 World Cup winning team was felicitated in Ahmedabad on Wednesday and answering the call of the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) to report at the academy, Rasheed landed here en route to Vizianagaram. He is yet to go home in Guntur or meet his parents.
The Andhra Ranji Trophy team trained in Vizianagaram and Rasheed being asked to join the academy is indication enough that like his captain Yash Dhull, who was drafted into the Delhi squad, the Guntur lad may find a place in the state team.
“I am fully focused on my game right now. I don’t know the reason, but I was asked to attend training sessions at the academy,” Rasheed told TOI.
Andhra are drawn in Elite Group E along with Rajasthan, Services, and Uttarakhand. They will play their matches in Thiruvananthapuram, beginning February 17. The squad left for Kerala in the morning and Rasheed will get to train with the red ball at the academy before he joins the squad for the second round fixture (Feb 24).
“Rasheed may be included in the Ranji team for the second match. That’s the reason he was asked to come here. Having played the white ball in the World Cup, training with the red ball will help him,” sources told TOI.
ACA cricket operations director Y Venugopala Rao said Rasheed has a bright future.
The U-19 World Cup winning team was felicitated in Ahmedabad on Wednesday and answering the call of the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) to report at the academy, Rasheed landed here en route to Vizianagaram. He is yet to go home in Guntur or meet his parents.
The Andhra Ranji Trophy team trained in Vizianagaram and Rasheed being asked to join the academy is indication enough that like his captain Yash Dhull, who was drafted into the Delhi squad, the Guntur lad may find a place in the state team.
“I am fully focused on my game right now. I don’t know the reason, but I was asked to attend training sessions at the academy,” Rasheed told TOI.
Andhra are drawn in Elite Group E along with Rajasthan, Services, and Uttarakhand. They will play their matches in Thiruvananthapuram, beginning February 17. The squad left for Kerala in the morning and Rasheed will get to train with the red ball at the academy before he joins the squad for the second round fixture (Feb 24).
“Rasheed may be included in the Ranji team for the second match. That’s the reason he was asked to come here. Having played the white ball in the World Cup, training with the red ball will help him,” sources told TOI.
ACA cricket operations director Y Venugopala Rao said Rasheed has a bright future.