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"You can't drop someone with one failure": Bibhas Das questions Abishek Porel's exclusion from U-19 World Cup Squad

Bibhas Das, a well-known coach from Bengal asks questions on why Bengal u-19 captain Abishek Porel was excluded from the U-19 World Cup Squad

Dec 24, 2021, 8:16 AM5 min read

Abishek Porel, the current U-19 Captain of the Bengal Cricket Team was not included in the upcoming U-19 World Cup squad. The stylish left-handed wicket-keeper since then has scored three tons in four innings in Cooch Behar Trophy. He could have made it four in four, however, missed that by 15 runs against Hyderabad. Bibhas Das, one of the most recognised faces in the Bengal cricket circuit, who has also coached and mentored Abishek throughout his career, has thrown questions to selectors over the non-inclusion of this wonder kid from Bengal.

Abhishek Porel after his ton against Uttrakhand in the Cooch Behar Trophy | ICC U-19 World Cup | Bengal Cricket | Sportz Point
Abishek Porel after his ton against Uttrakhand in the Cooch Behar Trophy. Image - Instagram/cabcricket

Read Also: Top scorers in Vijay Hazare trophy in last ten seasons

"You just can't drop someone from the team because of one failure", Bibhas Das started his conversation like this. It showed disappointment and some anguish in his voice. "This boy has been performing throughout the year and past seasons as well. If you can't judge a talent via that, you don't need a selector. You can have a statistician and ask them to make a team via leaderboard sheets", Mr Das went on to add.

However, Abishek went on to get a first-time call in the Bengal Ranji Trophy 27-men squad post recent performances. Though this somehow makes Bibhas Das happy, he would have loved Abishek to be on that world cup aeroplane. Meantime, the U-19 Indian world cup squad is also playing the U-19 Asia Cup to prepare for the World Cup.

"In Bengal cricket, the rule of thumb is that you get success in the age group level and then you make your way into the seniors. That is why I think the World Cup was important for Abishek. If this was Mumbai, I would not have been worried. Because players there get selected for Ranji trophy before playing major age level tournaments."

Bibhas Das on why the U-19 World Cup was important for Abishek Porel

Although, he thinks Abishek's main goal is to play for senior India. "If you can do well in the senior team, no one will remember what you did in the U-19s. That is why I think doing well in Ranji will be vital for his career", Bibhas Das added.

Read Also: Bengal: a top-level team with mid-level ambitions and low-level achievements

Abishek's U-19 Challenger Trophy included 8(14), DNB, 15(17), 1(3), 54(75). However, Abishek was batting at No.6 and 7 throughout the tournament, except for one match. "I could not understand, why he was batting there. He always bats at the top of the order, Bibhas Das questioned management's decision on his batting position.

Porel turned everything around in the Cooch Behar Trophy. His scores include 71(83), 36(39)*, 144(215), DNB, 102(103), DNB, 104(145), 85(88).

Meanwhile, Bibhas Das has questioned the Cricket Association of Bengal's Junior Team administration of what they did to push their brightest talent for the mega event. Although, he thinks it is quite wonderful what the senior selection panel is trying by promoting young talents of Bengal.

Read Also: Devang Gandhi is Bengal's new Under-19 coach

Bengal has always been controversial about giving chances to "outsiders" while ignoring homegrown talents. Moreover, the last trophy Bengal won was at the U-23 level. Interestingly, it was the same group of players who managed to win the U-19 Cooch Behar Trophy for Bengal. Although, unfortunately, none of the players from that group got the chances they deserve at the senior level.

"The Administration needs to get it right. They need to get it right quick. We do not need left-out players from other states to fill our teams. Bengal is full of exceptional talents. We need to pick them and nurse them with good care."

Bhivas Das on CAB's love for other state players.

When asked about Abishek's game, he added, "That kid is an all-rounder. You can pick him as a batter. You can pick him as a wicket-keeper as well." However, he thinks there are no limits on improving. "He is a tall boy. So as a wicket-keeper he generally has a lot of ground covered. But, I want him to work on his footwork more. I will ask him to have a word with Papali (Wriddhiman Saha) on that aspect", he told Sportz Point in an exclusive interview.

Read Also: Bengal T20 Challenge: Habib Gandhi hits 22 in the super over to win it for Durgapur

Bengal has announced their 27-men probable for the upcoming Ranji Trophy. The team has 4 wicket-keepers. Shreevats Goswami, Shakir Habib Gandhi, Abishek Porel and Wriddhiman Saha are among them. However, when asked about the chances of Abishek Porel's debut for the seniors, Bibhas Das told, "I am not sure for how many matches Saha will be available (due to National duties). But Abishek needs to be ready to dominate Ranji trophy if he wants to knock the doors of Indian cricket."

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No KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj in Duleep Trophy? BCCI writes to State Associations to include the centrally contracted players

BCCI has expressed strong displeasure over the exclusion of players like KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj from the upcoming Duleep Trophy.

Aug 22, 2025, 12:00 PM4 min read

No KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj in Duleep Trophy? BCCI

The controversy over the key members of the Indian Test team not being selected for major domestic cricket tournaments continues to grow. Now The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has expressed strong displeasure over the exclusion of top international players like KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj from the South Zone team for the upcoming Duleep Trophy.

After this, the Board has officially written a letter to all the state associations asking them to give priority to the selection of centrally contracted players for this opening tournament of the domestic season.

Also Read: Ranji Trophy: Ajinkya Rahane steps down from Mumbai captaincy ahead of the new season

Many big names were not included

South Zone announced its team on July 27. Many big names like KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna and Sai Sudharsan were not included in it.

The Duleep Trophy, which begins in Bengaluru on August 28, is considered an important platform for domestic and national level talents. The board did not like the decision of the South Zone to not include these players in the team despite their availability during the off-season.

Abey Kuruvilla wrote the email

BCCI General Manager of Cricket Operations Abey Kuruvilla addressed the issue in an email sent to zonal coordinators and state units last week. According to the reports, Kuruvilla stressed the importance of ensuring the participation of all available Indian players to maintain the prestige and competitive level of the Duleep Trophy. 

Kuruvilla wrote in the email, “To uphold its prestige and ensure the highest quality of competition, it’s imperative that all currently available India players are selected for their respective zonal teams. Requesting the Zonal Convenors to ensure that all the current India players who are available to play Duleep trophy should be picked.”

“All players, contracted or otherwise, who make themselves available for selection into Team India, shall participate in domestic matches conducted by BCCI,” 

“In case any player opts not to participate in any domestic cricket tournaments in spite of availability, he/she shall not be considered for selection unless a prior recommendation is obtained to skip the match/tournament from the National coach and the chairman of the selection committee, and prior approval from the BCCI. In case any leave is granted, the same shall be considered on the basis of some valid and cogent reason.” the email said.

Instructions to give priority to domestic cricket

This directive is in line with the BCCI's policy of making participation of international players mandatory in domestic competitions. The board had previously warned players against giving priority to the IPL over first-class cricket and earlier this year reminded all contracted players to remain committed to the domestic calendar.

However, this instruction from BCCI has come after South Zone announced its team. It is still not clear whether the selectors will make any changes in their list or not. Tilak Verma was made the captain of the team.

Also Read: Duleep Trophy: Shardul Thakur to lead the West Zone; no Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara in the squad

Questions were raised on international players

Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh and Shreyas Iyer among many other players are expected to participate in the tournament representing their respective regions.

The state associations have previously expressed concern that the automatic inclusion of Indian stars in the regional teams overlooks Ranji players who have performed consistently throughout the season.

Many have argued that matches such as India A tours and Board President's XI would be a more suitable platform for international players, leaving regional tournaments as a rewarding avenue for domestic players.

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ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: Chinnaswamy Stadium loses hosting rights due to “unforeseen circumstances” after RCB stampede case

ICC confirmed Navi Mumbai will replace Bengaluru as one of the five venues for the upcoming ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025.

Aug 22, 2025, 11:12 AM3 min read

ICC Women’s World Cup 2025

The ICC Women's World Cup 2025 is to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka and a total of 8 teams are to participate in it. But even before the tournament starts, a big change has been made in its schedule.

After the stampede in Bengaluru, the ICC has now decided to shift the matches to be held at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to the ground in Navi Mumbai, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Friday.

Also Read: ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: Indian squad announced, Shefali Verma not in the team

Matches cancelled in Bengaluru due to RCB stampede case

ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: Chinnaswamy Stadium loses hosting rights due to “unforeseen circumstances” after RCB stampede case

After 17 years of long wait, RCB team finally won the IPL 2025 title. After this, RCB players gathered at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to celebrate the victory. There was a huge crowd to see them and after this many fans lost their lives due to a stampede.

Then the Karnataka government formed a commission, which declared the Bengaluru ground unsafe for big events. Now after this, the ICC has decided not to hold matches on the Bengaluru ground.

Matches will be held at Navi Mumbai ground

The match between India and Sri Lanka was to be held on 30 September at Bengaluru ground, which will now be played at Guwahati ground. The match between England and South Africa was also scheduled to be held on 3 October, which will now be held in Guwahati. The match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on 20 October was to be played at Colombo ground, which will now be played at Navi Mumbai ground. 

On the other hand, Navi Mumbai has got two more matches to be played in Bengaluru. These include India vs New Zealand (23 October) and India vs Bangladesh (26 October). There is also a strong possibility that the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final will be held either in Navi Mumbai or Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Also Read: India Cricket team's performance in every ICC Women's World Cup

Jay Shah expressed satisfaction about the new venue

"Navi Mumbai has emerged as a genuine home for women’s cricket in recent years. The support it has received during international fixtures and the Women’s Premier League has been remarkable, creating an atmosphere that elevates the players and inspires fans. I am certain that the same energy will define the big matches of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup as it returns to India after 12 years," Jay Shah said in an ICC release.

“We stand at a pivotal moment in the journey of the women’s game. This World Cup has the potential to be remembered as one of those defining milestones that shaped the sport’s future, not only in India but across the cricketing world.

“While unforeseen circumstances required us to adjust the schedule and replace a venue, we are pleased to now have a line-up of five world-class venues that will showcase the very best of the women’s game. The stage is set, and I am confident this tournament will capture imaginations and inspire a new generation of fans.”

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Ranji Trophy: Ajinkya Rahane steps down from Mumbai captaincy ahead of the new season

Ajinkya Rahane decided to step down from Mumbai Ranji Trophy team for forthcoming season. Rahane posted on X that he will continue to be available to play for Mumbai.

Aug 21, 2025, 11:25 AM3 min read

Ranji Trophy Ajinkya Rahane steps down from Mumbai captaincy ahead of the new season

Veteran batsman Ajinkya Rahane, on Thursday, has resigned from the captaincy ahead of the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. In a message on social media, Rahane made it clear that this is the time when the team should get a chance to develop new leadership.

Also Read: BCCI extends Ajit Agarkar's contract as Chairman of Selectors till June 2026

'I believe it’s the right time to groom a new leader'

Rahane posted on his social media account that he would not continue as Mumbai captain in Ranji Trophy but would continue to represent the side as a player.

“Captaining and winning championships with the Mumbai team has been an absolute honour. With a new domestic season ahead, I believe it’s the right time to groom a new leader, and hence I’ve decided not to continue in the captaincy role. I remain fully committed to giving my best as a player and will continue my journey with @MumbaiCricAssoc to help us win more trophies. Looking forward to the season,” Rahane wrote on his X account.

Mumbai Team under Rahane's captaincy

Under Rahane's captaincy, Mumbai achieved stability and success in domestic cricket. Under his leadership, Mumbai ended a seven-year drought by winning the Ranji Trophy in 2023–24. Apart from this, he also led the team to victory in the Irani Cup in 2024-25 and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2022-23. These victories took his captaincy to new heights.

Despite giving up captaincy, the 37-year-old, who has scored over 14,000 runs in 201 first-class matches, made it clear that he is not retiring. He will continue to represent Mumbai as a batsman in all formats.

Rahane said that he will work for the team as a batsman with full enthusiasm and commitment. His main goal is to bring success to the team and help the new captain in his development.

Also Read: Five things from Asia Cup team announcement press conference

Who will be the new captain?

Ranji Trophy Ajinkya Rahane steps down from Mumbai captaincy ahead of the new season

India allrounder Shardul Thakur will lead the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team for forthcoming season.

Thakur leading Mumbai was always on the cards especially after he was appointed as West Zone captain for Duleep Trophy. It is understood that the Mumbai senior selection committee spoke to Rahane before the season and had taken his feedback about future captaincy candidates.

Thakur has been playing a vital role in Mumbai’s Ranji success over the past few years. In addition to wickets, he has also bailed out Mumbai with lower-order runs. He also scored 505 runs for Mumbai last season where he slammed one hundred. He also took 35 wickets in nine matches.

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ICC ODI Rankings: Rohit Sharma overtakes Babar Azam; makes gains despite not playing since March

Rohit Sharma jumped one place and reached the second position in the latest ICC ODI Rankings. With this, he left behind Pakistan's star batsman Babar Azam.

Aug 13, 2025, 11:22 AM3 min read

ICC ODI Rankings: Rohit Sharma overtakes Babar Azam; makes gains despite not playing since March

Indian ODI team captain Rohit Sharma has reached the second position in the men's ICC ODI rankings. In the new rankings released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday, the Hitman jumped one place and reached the second position. With this, he left behind Pakistan's star batsman Babar Azam

Also Read: Most Ducks by an Indian in Tests

Rohit last played in March

Rohit, who has already retired from Tests and T20I, last played an ODI in March during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand, which India won.

Rohit has scored 180 runs in the ICC Champions Trophy in five matches, boasting a highest strike rate of 100.00 among the Indian batters in the tournament. Rohit has 756 rating points in the latest rankings.

Babar failed to perform against West Indies

On the other hand, Babar could not show anything special in the recent ODI series against West Indies, which the Men in Green lost 1-2 in Trinidad. As a result, he slipped to the third position.

With Babar managing just 56 runs against West Indies in three ODIs, the International Cricket Council (ICC) took a note of his strike rate to drop him to third. He managed a strike rate of just 62.22 against West Indies.

Gill at No. 1

There has been no change in Shubman Gill's reign in the latest ICC ODI rankings for batters. He is in first place with 784 rating points. Apart from Gill and Rohit, the third Indian in the top five is Virat Kohli, who is in fourth place. He has 736 rating points.

India continues to dominate the ODI charts, with five players in the top 15, including Shreyas Iyer (8th) and KL Rahul (15th).

Also Read: Shreyas Iyer's best knocks in Tests

India to play next ODI series against Australia

It is worth mentioning that the Indian team will tour Australia in October. During this time a three-match ODI series will be played between the two.

Rohit announced after Champions Trophy 2025 that he does not intend to retire from ODI cricket, even sharing a moment with Kohli joking about it during the celebrations.

However, despite having eyes on the 2027 Cricket World Cup, Rohit and Kohli's spots are reportedly not a guarantee in the ODI setup. In fact, as per reports in recent days, the veteran duo will also have to turn up in domestic cricket as a metric for form and fitness.

On the other hand, whether Rohit will continue to be captain till the World Cup is also a topic of debate. With 25-year-old Shubman Gill impressing in England, Rohit isn't an automatic captaincy selection anymore. However, the ODI rankings continue to reflect both Rohit and Kohli's continued prowess in the 50-over format.

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Bengal Cricket: Sudip Gharami and Tanusree Sarkar win C.A.B Cricketer of the Year Awards 2025; Rahul Prasad shines in U23

Sudip Gharami and Tanusree Sarkar won the C.A.B. Cricketer of the Year 2024/25 awards for men's and women's, respectively. Rahul Prasad won everything in the Men's U23 category. Dhara Gujjar won the highest run getter in Senior Women's ODI award.

Aug 5, 2025, 4:47 PM6 min read

Bengal Cricket: Sudip Gharami and Tanusree Sarkar win C.A.B Cricketer of the Year Awards 2025; Rahul Prasad shines in U23 | sportzpoint.com

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) is all set to celebrate the remarkable achievements of its cricketers as it announced the awardees for the 2024-25 season. The awards ceremony will recognise exceptional talent across various categories, spanning senior men’s, senior women’s, and junior levels, including under-23, under-19, under-16, under-15, and club league categories. 

When is the C.A.B. Award Ceremony?

As per multiple reports, the C.A.B. Award Ceremony for the 2024-25 season will take place on 30 August 2025 at the Dhana Dhanya Auditorium in Kolkata.

Who are the winners?

Sudip Gharami was named the C.A.B. Cricketer of the Year for 2024-25 season. | sportzpoint.com
Sudip Gharami was named the C.A.B. Cricketer of the Year for 2024-25 season. Image | CAB Media

In the senior men’s category, Sudip Gharami was named Cricketer of the Year, while Shahbaz Ahmed and Sayan Ghosh shared the Gentleman Cricketer and Best Fast Bowler awards, respectively. This is the second time Gharami will recieve the Cricketer of the Year Award.

Read Also: Bengal Players in IPL 2025 – Full List & Performance

Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal wins C.A.B. Highest Wicket-taker of the Year Award for consecutive seasons. | sportzpoint.com
Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal wins C.A.B. Highest Wicket-taker of the Year Award for consecutive seasons. Image | C.A.B. Media

Sudip Chatterjee earned the Highest Run Getter for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, and Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal will be honoured as the Highest Wicket Taker in the same tournament.

Read Also: Exclusive: 'Honoured' Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal can't wait to bowl alongside Indian pacers in Duleep Trophy 2025

C.A.B. Awards 2024/25: Tanusree Sarkar won the Best Senior Women's Cricketer of the Year Award. | sportzpoint.com
Tanusree Sarkar won the Best Senior Women's Cricketer of the Year Award. Image | C.A.B.

The senior women’s category saw Tanusree Sarkar and Dhara Gujjar clinching the Highest Run Getter awards in the T-20 and One Day Tournaments, respectively, with Saika Ishaque recognised as the Highest Wicket Taker in the T-20 Tournament. Tanusree also won the Best Senior Women's Cricketer of the Year Award.

Both Tanusree and Dhara are with the India-A team in Australia at the moment.

Read Also: Bengal Women's Cricket Exclusive: Two out of two finals, record chase against Haryana, Jhulan Goswami, WPL and more

C.A.B. Awards 2024/25: Rahul Prasad won all the awards in U-23 Men's Category | sportzpoint.com
Rahul Prasad won all the awards in U-23 Men's Category. Image | C.A.B.

Among the junior categories, Rahul Prasad dominated the under-23 men’s section, securing multiple awards, including Best Cricketer and Highest Wicket Taker.

Read Also: From delivering online food to getting selected for India U-19 camp, Rahul Prasad's journey is an inspiring one

C.A.B. Awards: Dyuti Paul won the Best U-23 Women's Cricketer of the Year Award. | sportzpoint.com
Dyuti Paul won the Best U-23 Women's Cricketer of the Year Award. Image | C.A.B.

Dyuti Paul and Sushmita Ganguly shone in the under-23 women’s category, with Paul named Best Women's U-23 Cricketer and Ganguly as the Highest Wicket-taker for Bengal in Women's Under-23 One Day Tournament.

Read Also: Bengal Cricket: 7 U-19 cricketers from Bengal who can play for India in future

In the under-19 category, Vishal Bhati emerged as a key figure, winning Best Cricketer and Highest Wicket Taker, while Ipshita Mondal led the under-19 women’s section with the Highest Run Getter awards.

Sachin Yadav and Sandipta Patra were standout performers in the under-16 and under-15 categories, respectively, with Yadav named Best Bowler and Patra the Highest Run Getter.

The club league category will see Sayan Paul being honoured as the Best Under-19 Cricketer, rounding off a comprehensive recognition of talent across all levels. 

Read Also: Women's Cricket Exclusive: Age 14, 5 feet 8 inches tall, bowls left-arm wrist spin; Debjani Das is all set to be Bengal's next cricketing superstar

Cricket Association of Bengal Award Winners 2024-2025

Senior Men's

Sl. Name of the Awardee Category
1. Sudip Gharami Cricketer of the Year
2. Shahbaz Ahmed Gentleman Cricketer of the year
3. Sayan Ghosh Best Fast Bowler of the year
4. Sudip Chatterjee Highest Run getter for Bengal in Ranji Trophy
5. Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal Highest wicket-taker for Bengal in Ranji Trophy

Senior Women's

Sl. Name of the Awardee Category
1. Tanusree Sarkar Best Senior Women's Cricketer of the Year
2. Tanusree Sarkar Highest Run Getter for Bengal in Senior Women's T-20 Tournament
3. Dhara Gujjar Highest Run Getter for Bengal in Senior Women's One Day Tournament
4. Saika Ishaque Highest Wicket taker for Bengal in Senior Women's T-20 Tournament

Men's Under-23

Sl. Name of the Awardee Category
1. Rahul Prasad Best Under-23 Cricketer of the year
2. Rahul Prasad Best Bowler (Under-23) Years
3. Rahul Prasad Highest Run getter for Bengal in Col.C.K.Nayudu
4. Rahul Prasad Highest Wicket taker for Bengal in Col.C.K.Nayudu

Women's Under-23

Sl. Name of the Awardee Category
1. Dyuti Paul Best Under-23 Women's Cricketer of the Year
2. Dyuti Paul Highest Run getter for Bengal in Women's Under-23 One Day Tournament
3. Sushmita Ganguly Highest Wicket-taker for Bengal in Women's Under-23 One Day Tournament
4. Snehta Gupta Highest Run getter for Bengal in Women's Under-23 T-20 Tournament
5. Piyali Ghosh Highest Wicket taker for Bengal in Women's Under-23 T-20 Tournament

Men's Under-19

Sl. Name of the Awardee Category
1. Vishal Bhati Best Under-19 Cricketer of the Year
2. Yudhajt Guha Best Bowler Under-19 Years
3. Vishal Bhati Highest Run getter for Bengal in the Cooch Behar Trophy
4. Vishal Bhati Highest wicket-taker for Bengal in the Cooch Behar Trophy

Women's Under-19

Sl. Name of the Awardee Category
1. Ipshita Mondal Best Under-19 Women's Cricketer of the Year
2. Ipshita Mondal Highest Run getter for Bengal in Women's U-19 One Day Tournament
3. Ipshita Mondal Highest Run getter for Bengal in Women's U-19 T-20 Tournament
4. Monika Mal Highest Wicket-taker for Bengal in Women's U-19 One Day Tournament
5. Monika Mal Highest Wicket taker for Bengal in Women's U-19 T-20 Tournament

Men's Under-16

Sl. Name of the Awardee Category
1. Sachin Yadav Best Under-16 Cricketer of the year
2. Akash Tarafder Best Bowler Under-16 Years
3. Rajesh Mondal Highest Run getter for Bengal in Vijay Merchant Trophy
4. Akash Golder Highest wicket-taker for Bengal in Vijay Merchant trophy

Women's Under-15

Sl. Name of the Awardee Category
1. Sandipta Patra Best Under-15 Women's Cricketer of the Year
2. Sandipta Patra Highest Run Getter for Bengal in Women's Under-15 One Day Tournament
3. Debjani Das Highest Wicket-taker for Bengal in Women's U-15 One Day Tournament

Men's Under-19 Club League

Sl. Name of the Awardee Category
1. Sayan Paul Best Under-19 Cricketer in Club League

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