Anshuman Rath, former Hong Kong cricket team captain, has registered as a local player for Vidarbha Cricket Association and he will be eligible to play for the defending Ranji Trophy champions next year.
Owing to lack of exposure and financial viability, Indian-origin Anshuman, whose father hails from Orissa, left Honk Kong cricket and moved to India to find a footing in domestic cricket in order to structure his international career with Men in Blue and he already has taken a step towards his dream.
However, the 21-year-old, who recently played for the Edmonton Royals in the Global T20 Canada, will have to finish the one-year cooling-off period to be eligible for the domestic selection.
But the left-hander has already started his journey with the club cricket, as the wicket-keeper batsman scored an unbeaten 38 against Eleven Stars in the annual local T20 tournament of the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) on Saturday (October 26).
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Rath told Sportstar, “I came in at No. 4 in my first match in India but unfortunately, we lost the game. I am based in Nagpur and I am currently a Vidarbha-registered player. I kickstarted all the paperwork in early October. It all happened in a flash. I wish to represent the state from the next season and as of now, I will be playing club cricket. The VCA got me registered as a local player.”
On training at Nagpur Cricket Academy, he said: “Playing for Hong Kong and traveling to different places has helped me adjust to these wickets a little faster than what others would. The facilities have been great. The turf nets are good and the academy is pretty much open from dawn to dusk with an indoor wicket.
I am still getting used to the wickets and I have definitely got the resources now. There is no real coach. It is more of do-it-yourself but the main guy who organized this is Madhav Bakre [the founder of the academy]. He has made my transition to India very smooth.”
Rath also recalled Hong Kong’s clash with India in Asia Cup 2018, where his team fell short by 26 runs, though he scored 73 and a dream opening partnership of 174 runs with Nizakat Khan (92) made headlines.
He signed off by saying, “That game was a reality check for me and a turning point for me in deciding where to move. The highs and lows of associate cricket are that one day, you may be close to beating India and then, beg for games. Then, I decided to leave my position in Hong Kong.”
(With Sportstar Inputs)
