Odisha cricket lovers happy over Basant`s selection

Cuttack: Cricket lovers, enthusiasts and administrators in Odisha were elated when local seamer Basant Mohanty was picked in the India A team to play the upcoming one-day matches against the visiting New Zealand A team.

Mohanty was selected along with 13 other players in the team that would be led by Unmukt Chand. Born in November 1986 in Cuttack, the 26-year-old right-hand medium fast bowler till date has picked up 170 wickets in the 44 first-class matches he has played with an encouraging economic rate of 2.33. "My selection in the India A team would encourage me further and I would use this opportunity to stake my claim in the senior team," Mohanty said after getting the news of his selection. Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) congratulated Mohanty on being selected in the India A team and hoped he would follow the footsteps of Debashis Mohanty, who made it into the senior India team in late 90`s. OCA secretary Asirbad Behera has congratulated Mohanty for being selected in India A team to play one-day matches against the Kiwis. "His selection is definitely an opportunity for other younger players to make an entry in the main India team," Behera said. PTI