After a fruitful 2024-25 domestic season where they featured in their maiden Ranji Trophy final, the Kerala cricket team will begin their preparatory leg for the forthcoming season with an overseas tour to Oman to take on the ICC-ranked national team.
The Kerala Cricket Association on Wednesday announced a 16-member side that will feature in the practice matches in Oman. The team will take on the national team in five 50-over matches. In the absence of Sanju Samson and Sachin Baby due to their IPL commitments with the Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, respectively, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammed Azharuddeen was named the skipper of the Kerala team after his prolific Ranji Trophy season.
Ranji Trophy performers Salman Nizar, Nidheesh MD, Basil NP, Ahmed Imran and Eden Apple Tom were also included in the side, besides a host of fresh faces.
Azharuddeen had finished on top of the Ranji Trophy run-getters list for Kerala as they fell before Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy final last month. While Azharuddeen amassed 635 runs, Nizar finished a close second with 628 runs.
The series is slated to be held from April 20th to 26th. A preparatory camp for the matches will be held in Thiruvananthapuram from April 15th to 18th.
Kerala cricket team for Oman tour: Rohan S Kunnummal, Ahmed Imran, Salman Nizar, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Shoun Roger, Govind Dev D Pai, Abhishek P Nair, Abdul Basith P A, Akshay Manohar, Sharafudheen N.M, Nidheesh M.D, Basil N.P, Eden Apple Tom, Sreehari S Nair, Biju Narayanan N, Manav Krishna.
Head Coach – Amay Khurasiya, Assistant Coach – Rajeesh Ratnakumar, Observer – Nasir Machan.