East Zone to Miss Akash Deep

CricDiary: East Zone will miss the services of Akash Deep in the upcoming Duleep Trophy competition. The India pacer is reportedly injured and has been advised rest by doctors. The nature of the injury remains unclear as his fitness assessment pushed to a later date.

Akash Deep was part of India’s recent Test tour of England. He missed the Manchester Test with a back issue but returned strongly for the decider. He notched up his maiden half-century as a nightwatcher. Akash Deep bagged bagged 13 wickets including a sensational 10-wicket haul in Birmingham that helped India level the series.

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Assam pacer Mukhtar Hussain, with Akash Deep sidelined, has been drafted into side. East Zone, led by Abhimanyu Easwaran, will open their campaign against Shubman Gill’s North Zone in the quarterfinals on 28 August at Bengaluru. East Zone will be bolstered by the return of Mohammed Shami who has played just one first-class match in the past two years. Mukesh Kumar will also join the side. Riyan Parag has been appointed as Easwaran’s deputy

East Zone is banking on a mix of youth and experience to offset the absence of Akash Deep.

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