Parthiv called up for west

On Tuesday, Parthiv Patel was drafted into the West Zone team for the Duleep Trophy tie against North in Chennai from October 6 to 9. This comes after the Gujarat captain did not figure in the initial squad. It is learnt that members of the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) forced the move.

On Tuesday, Parthiv Patel was drafted into the West Zone team for the Duleep Trophy tie against North in Chennai from October 6 to 9. This comes after the Gujarat captain did not figure in the initial squad. It is learnt that members of the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) forced the move.

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The squad announced on Sept 28 did not have the 27-year-old’s name. It had Smit Patel, the u-19 World Cup star from Gujarat, as the lone wicketkeeper. GCA secretary, Rajesh Patel, claimed the decision to not have the experienced Parthiv in the squad initially was baffling.

“Parthiv has now been included in the side. It was surprising to not have him in the first place. So, it is good that a player of his ability is in now,” said Patel.

Smit’s inclusion without having played a first-class game for Gujarat had raised eyebrows since he had been included in a squad that boasts of the cream of the zonal talent.

Sources said that though rules do not permit a squad of more than 15 in Duleep Trophy, the BCCI had made an exception in Parthiv’s case.