CUTTACK 19-Feb-2012 157
Odisha Cricket Association may have played host to IPL matches at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, but none of its players have made their presence felt in the high-profile T-20 tournament so far. But in the fifth edition, starting on April 4, all-rounder Biplab Samantaray may make Odisha proud by putting up some eye-catching performance for former champions Deccan Chargers.
The Hyderabad side, which has been treating Barabati Stadium as one of its home venues, meanwhile, strengthened its relationship with OCA by signing Samantaray for IPL 2012. Chargers also signed four other Indian uncapped cricketers for the purpose. They are Kenya’s Tanmay Mishra, Uttar Pradesh batsman Tanmay Srivastava, Madhya Pradesh medium-pacer T P Sudhindra and Hyderabad opening batsman Akshath Reddy.
Samantray, who scored his maiden first-class century (171 against Uttar Pradesh) in the 2011-12 Ranji season, will be the second OCA player and third from Odisha to represent Deccan Chargers in the IPL. The previous two are left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and wicket-keeper Haladhar Das. But Ojha, who was born in Bhubaneswar, never played first-class cricket for Odisha. Similarly, Keonjhar-born Abhishek Rout played IPL for Rajasthan Royals, but never represented Odisha in any official tournament. Batsman Natraj Behera was in the Kolkata Knight Riders’ squad for one season, but did not get the chance to play any match.
Samantaray will join Deccan Chargers as a player from catchment area. According to inside sources, he stands to gain Rs 30 lakhs for one season. The Chargers had kept an eye on him after his impressive performance in the Odisha Premier League, where he won the man of the tournament award. He was also the costliest player of the OPL. Cuttack all-rounder Samantaray was a member of the East Zone team that won the Duleep Trophy title for the first time earlier this month. He is currently leading Odisha in the East Zone One-day League Tournament in Kolkata.
OCA secretary Asirbad Behera congratulated Samanataray for being signed by Deccan Chargers and expressed confidence that the all-rounder would be seen in action at Barabati Stadium, where the Chargers are scheduled to play two of their home matches against Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders on April 19 and 22 respectively.
