Veteran all-rounder Aditya Sarwate, who represented Kerala in the last domestic season, has decided to part ways with the state ahead of the upcoming season. He will turn out for Chhattisgarh next year. "He has sought an NOC and we have issued it," Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) secretary Vinod Kumar told Cricbuzz, confirming the switch.
DOMESTIC TRANSFERS
Sarwate moves from Kerala to Chhattisgarh; Jaffer could join Vidarbha
There has been plenty of movement in the domestic cricket circuit so far © Getty
Sarwate (35), originally from Vidarbha, moved to Kerala last year. He featured in nine first-class games for the southern state, including the Ranji Trophy final. In Kerala's near-successful campaign, he scored 271 runs and claimed 34 wickets. Ironically, they lost the final to Sarwate's home state, Vidarbha. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he played five matches for Kerala, contributing 61 runs with the bat and taking nine wickets with the ball.
Sarwate was one of the three professionals of Kerala last season. The other two were Jalaj Saxena and Baba Aparajith. The KCA official said that the Saxena and Aparajith will apparently continue with the team for the upcoming season, the KCA official said.
Sarwate was part of Vidarbha's back-to-back Ranji Trophy triumphs in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. At Chhattisgarh, he will join Hyderabad pacer Ravi Kiran as a professional. "It's true that I have taken the NOC and am moving to Raipur. I am looking forward to the season and hope to help Chhattisgarh do well in the domestic circuit," Sarwate, who has played 70 first-class matches, told this website.
Chhattisgarh had quite a modest domestic season last year. Their campaigns in all three national competitions - Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy - had ended in the group stage.
Wasif Jaffer may join Vidarbha
Meanwhile, the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) who are set to be without its two professionals - Karun Nair and Jitesh Sharma - next season, are on the lookout for suitable replacements. Prashant Vaidya, Vidarbha's cricket in-charge, is believed to be in the process of finalising the new signings. The team may also bring in Wasim Jaffer as a batting consultant for the upcoming season.
Jaffer, a former India and Mumbai batter and a legend of domestic cricket, could not be contacted but a Vidarbha cricket official confirmed the possibility. The team is currently being coached by Usman Ghani, who guided the side to the Ranji Trophy title last season.
© Cricbuzz