Harbhajan Singh to lead North Zone in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Veteran Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has been named as the captain of the North Zone team for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Inter-Zonal Trophy 2017. The North Zone lineup looks like a heavyweight on the paper with a plethora of international stars lined up in the 15 man squad. The selectors for the North Zone team were Ashender Kaul (JKCA), Rajesh Bawa (HCA), Ashok Thakur (HPCA), Wg. Cdr Deepak Ahluwalia (SSCB), Sarandeep Singh (guest invitee and Siddhart Sahib Singh (convenor for the selections).

The panel of selectors was headed by former India cricketer Nikhil Chopra. Along with Harbhajan Singh, his fellow Indian teammate and Punjab teammate Yuvraj Singh has also been included in the line-up. Delhi openers Gautam Gambhir and Shikhar Dhawan have been named in the 15 man squad. Interestingly, both players are currently vying for the opener slot in the Indian national team.

Veteran left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra, who recently bowled superb spells in the T20Is against England, is also included in the squad. The selectors have ensured that they have a right balance of youth and experience in the team. Hard hitting teenage sensation Rishabh Pant makes the cut and would be hoping to come up good this season.

Team India standby Mandeep Singh features in the list too along with Haryana leggie Yuzvendra Chahal, who recently bagged 6/25 in a T20I against England at Bengaluru. Jammu and Kashmir all-rounder Parvez Rasool get a look in too. Former India U19 skipper and Delhi batsman Unmukt Chand is expected to join the squad after the first two matches of the tournament. North Zone, under the leadership of Harbhajan Singh, will play their first match against South Zone on February 12 at Mumbai.

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North Zone squad for Syed Mushtaq Ali Inter-Zonal Trophy 2017:

Harbhajan Singh (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Mandeep Singh, Rishabh Pant, Unmukt Chand, AR Pachera, Rishi Dhawan, Mayank Dagar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Parvez Rasool, Umar Nazir, Pradeep Sangwan, Mohit Sharma, Ashish Nehra.

Standby players:

Shivam Chauhan, Shubham Khajuria, Manpreet Gony, Manzoor Dar, Manan Sharma, Milind Kumar.