Premier Cricket: Carnegie skipper Abhi Sharma joins Fitzroy-Doncaster

Carnegie skipper Abhi Sharma is trying his luck at Premier Cricket after a good run in Cricket Southern Bayside.

Abhi Sharma at the creases for Carnegie. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Carnegie captain and leading Cricket Southern Bayside batsman Abhi Sharma is joining the ranks of Premier Cricket.

Coming off five good seasons with the Neggie, the right-hander has linked with Fitzroy-Doncaster.

Lions skipper Ejaaz Alavi captained Sharma in the Melbourne Renegades Multicultural T20 Cup team that defeated the Melbourne Stars two years ago.

Sharma, 27, top scored in the match with 52 from 39 balls.

Alavi said Sharma was a player with a lot of natural ability.

“I really liked the way he played, and I’m pleased to have him come across to Fitzroy next season,’’ he said.

“He’s keen to have a crack at Premier Cricket and I guess see the standards of training and things like that.

“We start pre-season in July and I’m excited to see how he goes. I know he’s keen for it and putting in the work prior to coming. He’s a really nice batsman from what I’ve seen, a good defence and good strokes, and a good decision-maker.’’

Last season Sharma hit 466 runs at 42.4 for Carnegie in the CSB Championship.

His previous four run aggregates were 549 at 34.3, 398 at 30.6, 396 at 28.3 and 689 at 57.4.

Abhi Sharma was a consistent run-maker for Carnegie. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Carnegie has also lost coach Ajay Bhatt, who has joined Sub-District club Hoppers Crossing after moving to the western suburbs.

The top-order batsman and swing bowler had three seasons with the Neggie, hitting 929 runs and taking 25 wickets.

Carnegie has regained wicketkeeper-batsman Ashish Harsolia from Parkdale and appointed him to replace Bhatt as senior coach.

Harsolia was a good performer in both his years with the Dales, making a century as an opening batsman against Beaumaris in 2019-20.

Carnegie recruitment manager Tim Dodgson said the club was pleased to have Harsolia back.

He said the Neggie – who finished fourth last season – were keen to recruit a leading batsman to replace Sharma and

“remuneration is available based on previous high grade cricket experience, club fit and playing record’’.