CHANDIGARH, Dec 9: Is former Indian Test star Yograj Singh the panacea the Panjab University cricket team looking forward to for a miracle?. One month, and you will get to know the answer. Even as the former fast bowler has undertaken a ``difficult, but not impossible task'' of helping the university claim its maiden Rohinton Baria Trophy, one knows for sure his commitment and as he himself says, ``I know how to handle these boys. I can see the potential in them which, unfortunately, was pretty unutilised so far. That's why I accepted the PU authorities' request of coaching the side, plus accompanying them for the tournament.''``We have so many good cricketers with us. Most of them are first class cricketers, having played for Punjab, Haryana or Himachal. Their lack of performance so far actually amazes me.''
Take a close look at the university team's performance down the years and you are bound to agree with Yog. Indeed, PU's performance, despite the strong base they have in the game, leaves much to be desired. The side has qualified from North Zone for the All-India Inter-varsity competitions only twice in the last eight attempts. The first time, in '94-95, they were the North Zone champions and finished the best ever runners-up in the All-India Rohinton Baria Trophy. Again the next year, in '95-96, they were the North Zone champions but this time they had to be content with an All-India third place.
Other attempts have been quite miserable, made more by some off-the-field controversies, like the banning of four players in the last two years or selection problems. However, and as Yog himself admits, this time the ``scenario will be quite different. The cricketers will play only cricket and there is no room for any politics or controversies in my book.''
Twenty seven probables have been selected for a 25-day camp, under Yograj's supervision at the local DAV College ground. ``I told them, I need at least 25 days to work on the boys. We will prune them down to the final sixteen about a week before the North-Zone tournament (dates yet to be announced-probably in January) to be hosted by the Guru Nanak Dev University. My main thrust is on match-practice. I want them match-fit. They should know how to perform in different circumstances,'' he says.
He will rely upon Dinesh Mongia (if available), Yuvraj Singh , Balraj, Manoj Rajan and Vikram Minhas as his frontline batsmen. ``With the kind of form they are in, we realise batting is our main strength,'' he says. Though the bowling is relatively weak, Yog is confident that his batsmen would out-bat the others.
``Apart from the hosts (GND University), Delhi University would be the tough sides. But, as I have always maintained, class plus commitment never fail.
So will my boys. We have to win the North Zone and then eye the All-India Rohinton Baria Trophy. That would be the job done,'' he says.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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