32-year-old cricketer from Porbandar Oman's captain

RAJKOT: Ajay Lalcheta, the

32-year-old

native of Porbandar, has been named the captain of Oman's national cricket team. Lalcheta, a slow left-arm orthodox bowler, had earned praise when underdogs Oman stunned Ireland in ICC World T20 qualifiers in Dharamsala last month.

India's ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had termed `golden' Lalcheta's miserly first over to Ireland captain William Porterfield.

After playing in under-14 to under-19 teams of Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA), Lalcheta immigrated to Oman in 2006 in search of better opportunities and job.

He joined Al-Turki enterprise and grabbed the attention of national team selectors by leading the company's team successfully . “The announcement came as a bit of a surprise for me. My aim will be to reach the qualifying round of ICC's ODI World Cup scheduled for 2019. We have two years to prepare and we will now focus on intensive training to make a mark in the 50-over format,“ Lalcheta told TOI over phone from Oman.

Lalcheta's younger brot her Ajay , who works for a bank in Porbandar, said, “Ajay's elevation as captain is a matter of pride for all of us here. Leading a national team is something that a cricketer always dream of.“

Lalcheta's immediate challenge would be the upcoming World Cricket League to be held in Jersey, the UK. Lalcheta's immediate challenge would be the upcoming World Cricket League to be held in Jersey , the UK, from May 21 to 28 where six teams -Oman, Jersey , Tanzania, Nigeria, Guernsey and Vanuatu -will participate. Two finalists of the ICC WCL Division 5 will earn a promotion to Division 4.

“In the next two years, we will have to win various stages of ICC tournaments to improve our ranks to enter the qualifying round for the next ODI World Cup. I am thankful to selectors for putting faith in me and I will try my best to lead the team from the front,'' Lalcheta said.

Lalcheta along with another Oman player Rajeshkumar Ranpura, who hails from Palanpur, got their initial coaching in Duleep School of Cricket, one of the oldest residential cricket school in Gujarat.

Read this story in Marathi

Explore the yearly horoscope 2025 for Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces zodiac signs. Spread love this holiday season with these New Year wishes, messages and quotes.