The Hindu : Keen contests in prospect

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Keen contests in prospect

CHENNAI JAN. 6. Karnataka is keen to erase memories of its failing to qualify for the Ranji Trophy semifinals, while Hyderabad and Tamil Nadu are looking to carry their good form and success in the longer-version into the K.S. Subbiah Pillai Trophy.

With the `Big Three' keen to establish their supremacy, the South Zone limited-overs cricket tournament, which begins here on Wednesday, is certain to be an absorbing affair. It concludes on Jan. 12.

Tamil Nadu, the defending champion at both the zone and national levels, has announced its squad for the first two games. It will miss the services of L. Balaji and Hemang Badani (in Australia) and K. Dinesh Kaartick (u-19 probables camp), but chances are that Sadagopan Ramesh (expected to be back from Down Under) will figure in the last three games. Meanwhile, Noorul Riaz replaces K.S. Vasudeva Das in the squad as the latter has joined the State under-22 team which plays Punjab in the all-India under-22 in Cuttack between January 7 to 9.

Karnataka is without mediumpacers Venkatesh Prasad (side strain) and N.C. Aiyappa (shoulder injury) while Vijay Bharadwaj has been dropped owing to lack of form. But the State has always done well in the abridged version, having won the title twice in the last three years. It is a team full of all-rounders.

Hyderabad is more or less the same side that played in the Ranji Trophy. It is, however, without the talented A.T. Rayudu (u-19 probables camp).

Today's matches: Andhra v Goa (IIT-Chemplast), Karnataka v Hyderabad (MAC) & Tamil Nadu v Kerala (ICL-GNC).

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