Standout performers from the inaugural Assam Premier League (APL) could be in line for trial calls from Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises after impressing talent scouts during the state’s first franchise-based T20 tournament.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia recently said several APL players have already attracted the attention of talent scouts associated with IPL franchises, with some of the top performers likely to receive trial opportunities.
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“Recently, I met two well-known former cricketers who are working as talent scouts for IPL franchises. They showed me a long list of players from the APL who are on their radar. I foresee a few of the top performers in the APL getting calls for trials with various franchises,” Devajit Saikia was quoted as saying by local media in Guwahati.
Among the players who made a strong impression
Among the players who made a strong impression was Guwahati Royals’ Bastab Roy, who finished the tournament as the leading wicket-taker with 23 wickets from 12 matches. The 21-year-old left-arm medium pacer also won the Player of the Tournament award.
Bastab, from Bogapara near Pathsala, had never played a BCCI-recognised tournament before the APL. He had previously featured in the Assam Premier Club Championship after beginning his training at the Ananda Ram Barua Cricket Academy in Pathsala.
Another major performer was Guwahati Royals batter Rohit Sen. The 22-year-old from Kokrajhar scored 543 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of 190 to finish as the tournament’s highest run-scorer. He won the Orange Cap and was also named the Emerging Player of the Tournament.
Rohit has represented Assam in one T20 match,
Rohit has represented Assam in one T20 match, but said his APL campaign had given him greater confidence and motivation to take the next step in his career.
The exposure provided by the APL was further enhanced by the presence of IPL scouts at venues during the tournament. The matches were also broadcast live, allowing players to attract attention beyond Assam.
Bastab and Rohit also had the opportunity to work alongside Guwahati Royals head coach Abu Nechim Ahmed and senior players such as Rishav Das and Mrinmoy Dutta.
Abu, the first cricketer from Assam to play
Abu, the first cricketer from Assam to play in the IPL, said both young players had the potential to reach the next level.
“I’m so happy that these two guys performed so well. When I first saw Bastab, I was amazed by his swing and the boy has got a huge heart. He is fearless. And I have had an eye on Rohit for some years. These two have a great chance to make it into the IPL. I hope they do,” Abu said.
The inaugural APL concluded on August 23, with Barpeta Braves defeating Guwahati Royals by five wickets in the final.
Organised by the Assam Cricket Association, the eight-team
Organised by the Assam Cricket Association, the eight-team league was aimed at providing emerging cricketers from the state with a competitive platform and exposure to national-level scouts and franchises.
With several players making an impact in the inaugural season, the APL could now become a pathway for Assam’s emerging cricketers to earn opportunities with IPL franchises.
Source: thenewsmill.com
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