Veteran Bengal pacer Ashoke Dinda is all set to play for the Goa Ranji team in the upcoming 2020-21 domestic season as the Goa Cricket Association has confirmed the signing of the seamer on a one-year contract on Tuesday (September 28).
Dinda had announced last year that he will not play for Bengal after being dropped midway through the 2019-20 season following a fallout with bowling coach Ranadeb Bose. The veteran pacer is the second highest wicket-taker ever for Bengal with 420 wickets in the First-class cricket.
He has decided to leave the Bengal side after becoming a victim of game politics last year and since then was searching for a new domestic side and his hunt ended on Goa.
The latest development has been by Goa Cricket Association (GCA) secretary Vipul Phadke on Tuesday. Phadke told PTI: “Yes, we have roped in Dinda for one season if the season starts and ends (at all).”
Meanwhile, Dinda said his role would be different with Goa as he will have not only to perform consistently but also to groom some youngsters.
Dinda said of joining the new team, “In Bengal, I had the responsibility to win matches there but there will be added pressure in Goa. I've to live up to the expectations and take wickets consistently.”
The seamer concluded, “I would try my best to bring the team up. We would play from C group and we will have a chance to make it all the way.”
Noteworthy, the Plate Group also featured Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry and Sikkim.
However, the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly insisted that they would try to have the domestic season "as much as" they can, but it is highly likely to be a truncated affair due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(With PTI Inputs)
