Sikkim signs 6 cricketers deprived of opportunity in ‘home’ states

Gangtok: Sikkim Cricket Association (SICA) signed six guest players by selection trials at Bengaluru, Karnataka and Rangpo, Sikkim. The six players include both male and female cricket players.

The players are Liyan Khan, Karthik CA, Kranthi Kumar, Rinki Rajak, Manizha Mumtaz and Jetsun Narbu Chee.

Liyan Khan, aged 29, a right-hand top-order batsman and leg spinner, has represented Karnataka in under-19, under-23, under-25 categories. He also played Ranji Trophy for the state. He has also represented South Zone in the Under 19 category.

Kranthi Kumar, aged 28, right-hand batsman, and right-arm medium-fast bowler represented Karnataka in Under-19, Under 22, Under-25 categories and List A matches. Along with Liyan Khan, he has also represented South Zone in the under-19 category and was enrolled in the BCCI Specialist Academy. Kranthi has also played for Hubli Tigers in Karnataka Premier League.

Karthik CA, aged 28, the top-order batsman, and the right-arm medium-fast bowler, was in the probables of Karnataka in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. He was part of the age categories team of the state in under-19, under-23, and under-25. Karthik played for Ballari Tuskers in the Karnataka Premier League.

Three women cricketers include Rinki Rajak, aged 22, a right-hand batter and right-arm off-spinner. She has represented West Bengal for 4 years in various categories and has also been part of the All India Super League, East Zone under-19 team in one-day cricket. She has been associated with Sikkim since the 2019-20 season and is the leading scorer for Sikkim in both U23 and senior categories.

Manizha Mumtaz, aged 20, right-hand batter and right-arm medium pace bowler. She has been playing cricket for over 7 years and has represented West Bengal and Mizoram in the under 23 categories and has led the Mizoram side as a captain.

Jetsun Narbu Chee, aged 16, is a right-hand wicket-keeper batter. She has been part of the under 16 Mumbai team and was in the probables of Mumbai in Under 19 and senior categories. In 2018-19 she was awarded the Mumbai Indians Junior Best Wicket-Keeper.

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Since 2018, SICA has signed the guest players based on their past performances. “SICA should give a platform to talented and younger players from top-performing States who are capable and can be with SICA for at least a few years,” said SICA President Lobzang G Tenzing.

He also added that the message should be loud and clear for the cricketing fraternity in India that SICA not only promotes local talent but also supports many deprived players from top cricket playing States, mentions a press release.