Snubbed by DDCA,Tokas switches sides

Son of a DTC employee,Tokas had applied for a job with the Railways last January. While he is upbeat about the new opportunity,he rues that he won’t get a chance to represent the Delhi Ranji team now.

“I am sad that I will not be able to play for Delhi now,which was my dream. But at least,here in Railways I will be given a chance to prove my worth and only my performance will decide whether I get picked or not,” he said.

Talking about the treatment that was meted out to him,Tokas recalled an incident from his last U-22 match for the DDCA. “I had a war of words with Sunny Sohal in the match against Punjab in Patiala. I was not severely punished and was let off with a warning by the team management. I kept my head and went on to take seven wickets in the two matches that I played. Despite this,I was not considered for the senior team,” he added.

An understudy of Railways coach Abhay Sharma,Tokas was a regular at the Railways’ net sessions throughout the last Ranji season,and has honed his skills under Udey Gupta and Sachin Khurana at the Turf Cricket Academy.

Having got the appointment letter,the young fast bowler now looks forward to making the squad.

“I am not worried about competition. I know for sure they pick the best playing eleven. I just hope to be among them.”

Meanwhile,Delhi off-spinner Narinder Singh,who was also trying to make it to the Railways,missed out as he couldn’t get his joining papers signed by March 31,which was the last date.

“My papers weren’t signed by the cut-off dates. I don’t know what will happen now. I will speak to the coach (Abhay Sharma) and we will take it from there,” he said.