Shahbaz Nadeem retained as Jharkhand Ranji skipper

Jamshedpur: Slow left-arm orthodox bowler Shahbaz Nadeem has been retained as captain of the Jharkhand Ranji team for the forthcoming session.

Jharkhand State Cricket Association Secretary, Rajesh Verma said Nadeem had led the state after Saurabh Tiwary resigned before a match last year. The 23-year-old Bokaro lad, Nadeem, who made his debut against Kerala in December, 2004 at Jamshedpur, had bagged 92 wickets at an average of 34.34 in 33 first class matches. In the last edition of the IPL, Delhi Daredevils player Nadeem scalped altogether seven wickets including three for 16 against Deccan Chargers. Asked whether the injured speedster Rajesh Verma will be in the team, Verma said Aaron is likely to come to the coaching camp currently on in Jamshedpur. "He would be in the team if declared fit." Verma expressed confidence that Jharkhand would improve its performance in the upcoming session under Tarak Sinha, who was has appointed as Director of Jharkhand Cricket Academy (JCA) recently. Sinha, who had led Rajasthan team to emerge Ranji Champion twice, will be there beside coach Tarit Ghosh (batting) and Satish Singh (bowling and fielding), Verma said. Jharkhand would begin their Ranji campaign against Assam at Jamshedpur on November 9 followed by Goa at the same venue from November 17. Two other matches will be played at Ranchi (versus Himachal Pradesh from November 24) and Dhanbad (versus Andhra Pradesh from December 15) PTI