Yusuf Pathan included in the Baroda squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2017-18

The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) today named their team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2017-18 and the selection once again had controversy surrounding it. Veteran batsman Yusuf Pathan who was ignored from the team for the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s has been named in the squad this time. It came as a surprise since Yusuf was preparing to leave for Dhaka where he was to participate in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL).

He had all the clearances required and was scheduled to leave for the neighbouring country tonight. The BCA asked him to appear for a fitness test and the big man cleared the sprints as well as yo-yo test. Yusuf hasn’t played a match for last couple of months after he was banned by the BCCI for failing a dope test and is eager for match practice. He was signed up by the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2018 auction for INR 1.9 crore.

Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya are the other big names in the Baroda squad

Deepak Hooda who was appointed the captain of the squad after Irfan Pathan‘s sacking in the Ranji Trophy will continue to lead them in the 50-over tournament as well. Hooda has been their top performer and that also earned him a rich contract in the IPL auction. The Sunrisers retained him with the RTM card for 3.2 INR crores. Further, the Baroda side included star all-rounder Krunal Pandya, who hit the jackpot in the IPL auction. He was retained by Mumbai Indians for something as big as INR 8.80 crores.

The selection this time around has attracted controversy as they included wicketkeeper-batsman Viraj Bhosale who failed to clear the fitness test. Later it emerged that he had a connection in the BCA and the fact that Kiran More is his uncle helped him make it to the team.

Baroda Squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2017-18: 

Deepak Hooda (Captain), Atit Sheth, Krunal Pandya, Kedar Devdhar, Aditya Waghmode, Yusuf Pathan, Vishnu Solanki, Swapnil Singh, Ninad Rthwa, Urvil Patel (WK), Rishi Arothe, Lukman Meriwala, Soaeb Tai, Dhruv Patel, Viraj Bhosale (WK).

Baroda’s fixtures in the tournament:

1st Match – Karnataka vs Baroda | February 7 | 09:00 IST (03:30 GMT), Just Cricket, Bangalore

2nd Match – Haryana vs Baroda | February 8 | 09:00 IST (03:30 GMT), Alur Cricket Stadium-II, Alur

3rd Match – Punjab vs Baroda | February 10 | 09:00 IST (03:30 GMT), Alur Cricket Stadium-II, Alur

4th Match – Railways vs Baroda | February 13 | 09:00 IST (03:30 GMT), Alur Cricket Stadium-II, Alur

5th Match – Baroda vs Odisha | February 14 | 09:00 IST (03:30 GMT), Alur Cricket Stadium-II, Alur

6th Match – Baroda vs Assam | February 16 | 09:00 IST (03:30 GMT), Alur Cricket Stadium-II, Alur