The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), on the advice of former India spin legend Harbhajan Singh, conducted trials in rural areas of the state in which over 1000 players participated to create a 'pool of fast bowlers'. Many of these are bowlers who had never used a 'leather ball' before this trial. The PCA has selected 93 bowlers from the trials held from June 10 to 21 in different regions of the state. Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan has been advising the PCA to regain its lost prestige. He wants the state unit to make proper use of the funds it gets from the BCCI (Cricket Board of India).
Harbhajan, who is currently on a family holiday, said, "I don't think most states have done this before. Instead of restricting it to an age group, we conducted an open trial. I wanted PCA to find new talent in fast bowling. “Punjab has players of strong stature and I am not prepared to believe that we do not have fast bowlers with the pace of Umran Malik or Kuldeep Sen. Our thinking is to help him become a better bowler. We have already identified around 90 players in the age group of 16 to 24.
The Punjab state team over the years has had medium pacers like Siddharth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma, and Baltej Dhanda. His bowling speed ranges from 125 kmph to 135 kmph. Since the departure of VRV Singh, Punjab has not found such fast bowlers who can consistently bowl at 140 to 145 kmph. The PCA, headed by Secretary Dilsher Khanna, has appointed former national selector Harvinder Singh as well as former Indian pacers Manpreet Singh Gony and Gagandeep Singh to scout for talent under short and long-term plans.
(pc amarujala)
