Amit Chaudhary will play on with Haig Fawkner in 2020-21 as the club secures a pair of recruits
Having cemented itself in VTCA Senior Division last season, Haig Fawkner has strengthened its line-up with a pair of promising recruits and lured club great Amit Chaudhary out of retirement.
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Haig Fawkner has strengthened its line-up after cementing itself in VTCA Senior Division last season.
Club great Amit Chaudhary has been lured out of retirement, while Jaspreet Bhatti has crossed from division rivals Yarraville Club and Vaib Deshpande from St Brigit’s/St Louis in Southern Bayside.
Haig had planned to had the captain-coach role to Arish Alam in 2020-21 but those plans have seemingly been scuppered by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Alam living in India and unable to travel.
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Belying his age, Chaudhary led Haig Fawkner in wickets last season with 25 scalps - fourth most in Senior Division - and scored 128 runs.
Chaudhary said the likelihood of a full one-day season was also a factor in his decision to pull on the boots again.
“Given most of the season will be one-day now it will be less stress on the body,” he said.
“Arish is still in India, so we don’t know if he’ll be able to come back at, it’s all up in the air but I’m sure it’s the same at a lot of other clubs as well.”
While Alam’s availability is questionable, fellow import Muhammad Naeem will be ready for the new season after remaining in Australia during the pandemic.
Bhatti crosses to Mutton Reserve after playing 11 First XI matches for Yarraville Club last season.
Bhatti opened the batting for much of the season but was dropped on the eve of finals as the Clubbers reached the Senior Division grand final.
He finished the season with 185 runs at 18.5 in Senior Division but excelled in the T20 competition, plundering 211 runs at an average of 42.2.
Deshpande snared 15 wickets in six Division 1 matches, at an average of 19.13, and added 110 runs at 22.
Chaudhary said the pair of recruits would add some much needed youth to the line-up.
“ (Jaspreet) is a good get because he likes the one-day style,” he said.
“He likes playing his shots and I think the shorter formats will suit him.
“He opened the batting at Yarraville, in the one-dayers especially and the T20s.
“ (Vaib) played First Class cricket back home and we got onto him through Arish.”
With the season looking likely to kick off in late October or early November, Chaudhary can now start confirming player numbers.
“We haven’t been in touch with a lot of guys because of COVID, everyone’s just been waiting,” he said.
“A lot of the talks we’ll have with players will take place in the coming days and weeks.”