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Assam zooms on the national cricket map

Assam has never made its presence felt in sports -- least of all, in cricket. But two young lads of the India Under-15 cricket team seem all set to change that.

One is Asia's best batsman, and another is Asia's best bowler. ''I consider myself an all rounder,'' says the well-built Mrigen Talukdar, exuding confidence. He got 18 wickets in the just concluded Asian Cricket Council championship at Kuala Lumpur, where India topped the tables to take the title.

Talukdar may have returned with a bagful of wickets, but he is now hungry for runs. And his sights are set on the Junior World Cup, to kick off in England on July 30. ''I must get some good scores,'' Talukdar says, knowing well that the hopes of his team, and of his coach Roger Binny, is on him spearheading the Indian attack with the new ball.

Then there is Palash Jyot Das, being hailed as Asia's best batsman at this level. In Kuala Lumpur, he notched up 317 runs, including two tons, tto become the highest scorer and, in the process, Binny's blue-eyed boy. ''I am hoping that my form will continue," Das says, before racing away from the media and getting back into the nets.

Das is aware that much depends on him. ''I have not been consistent. Binnysir has been telling me that repeatedly, and I will try my hardest in England," says the 10t standard student.

Both Talukdar and Das are from Guwahati, and trained initially at the Guwahati Cricket Coaching Centre (GCCC). And their success at the international level has prompted a surge of interest in junior level cricket in Assam.

Actually, cricket at the lower levels is alive and well in that state, but time and again, promising young kids end up fading out by the time they get to the senior level. "I only hope that this syndrome will not affect these two,'' says coach Nabab Ali, who is mentor to many young kids in the state. Ali, who has made the promotion of junior cricket in Assam his lifework, believes both lads are good prospects for the national team.

''They have got on the right lines, and now they should continue with their practise and learning. I have control over them, both on and off the field, to make sure that they stay focussed," says Ali, adding that another hopeful, Khanin Saikia, was unlucky not to make the India team. ''The poor lad was called for Indian team selection. But he was in England playing minor county cricket, and could not reach the camp. He is nice left arm spinner,'' said Ali.

Meanwhile, the rise of Talukdar and Das is a story in itself. Though Das is the son of a bank employee, Talukdar is not from a well off background. ''He used to stay so far away from town that it was impossible for him to reach practice in time. So, we spent Rs 25,000 and put him up in the stadium guest house, during training periods," Ali explains.

Both lads now play at the Cooch Behar Trophy level, and have been consistently turning in good performances. Ali expects that they will be selected for the BCCI's National Cricket Academy by next year.

Meanwhile, the two shy, nervous lads have become hot property with the media, to such an extent that for once, two cricketers are pushing both politicians, and insurgents, off the front pages of Assamese newspapers.