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Oasis, Kudua call it a day

Palakkad: The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has been saying over the last few days that it's time for the seniors to leave the Ranji stage.

Following this, Sunil Oasis and Ajay Kudua, who played a crucial role for Kerala for many seasons, announced their retirement from first-class cricket at the Palakkad Press Club on Thursday.

In fact, it is learnt that the KCA had also wanted three others — M.P. Sorab, K. Chandrasekhara and M. Suresh Kumar — to quit. But Chandrasekhara and Sorab were not keen to do so, while Suresh said that he would decide later.

There is also a strong feeling that the players were under tremendous pressure to resign. It has raised many eyebrows too. The likely exit of so many senior players this time could turn out to be a real problem as Kerala could lose some valuable experience.

Even Kerala's new Ranji coach, Parthasarathy Sharma, feels so. "It's not good to ignore the seniors completely. Rajasthan did exactly that and it spelt trouble for the team. For almost four years it struggled," said the coach.

Oasis and Kudua had been two strong pillars of strength for Kerala for more than a decade. It was under Oasis's captaincy that Kerala twice entered the Ranji Trophy knockout stage. A fine all-rounder, Oasis has got more than a dozen centuries under his belt.

"There were many who had backed me over the past 14 years. I would like to thank the KCA, my family and the media for all the support."

Dedication

The stylish Kudua, who has bailed out Kerala on many occasions, dedicated his efforts to his late coach N.S. Krishnan of the Swantons Cricket Club.

"It's a new era and it's time for us to move on. We are happy that we had played in one of the finest eras of Kerala cricket. We will carry that with us for ever," said Kudua, a senior officer with the Chemplast.

"We got to play different States and we gave our very best. Now that I have quit, I will give all my experience to Kerala cricket," said Oasis, a Deputy Manager with India Cements.

The KCA thanked them both for their contribution. T.C. Mathew, secretary, KCA, said that the duo were instrumental in grooming many youngsters.

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