2 Gujaratis to power Oman T20 team

Rajkot: When Oman's T20 team makes its world cup debut in March, two players are bound to grab a lot of attention in Gujarat. The Middle East nation team has two Gujarati players - Ajay Lalcheta from Porbandar and Rajeshkumar Ranpura from Palanpur. Both are all-rounders, who migrated from their hometowns few years ago to shape up their cricketing careers.
Lalcheta, 32, is a left-handed batsman and slow left-arm orthodox bowler while Ranpura is right-arm medium pacer and left-handed batsman.
Lalcheta first immigrated to Uganda to play cricket in 2004 and stayed there for one year. However, he returned in 2006 after which he migrated to Muscat and started playing cricket there. He joined the Al Turk shipping firm and played for its team, handling its logistics department.
"He was picked up for the national team after he helped his firm win a trophy in a tournament. We all are proud of his achievements," Vijay Lalcheta, Ajay's younger brother, who works as deputy manager at a private bank in Porbandar, told TOI. Ajay's father Vrajlal, who now lives a retired life, owned a provision store in Porbandar.
Both Lalcheta and Ranpura got their initial coaching in Duleep School of Cricket, one of the oldest residential cricket school in Gujarat.
"They have represented Saurashtra in many under-14 and under-19 tournaments. Both are excellent fielders too. Their career got a boost after migrating to Oman," said Rambhai Odedara, who was the coach at Duleep School.
Ranpura, who has two sisters, was brought up in Palanpur, where his father Jagdishchandra worked at a government agricultural university. His father helped him realize his dream. "Ranpura was living in a hostel in Porbandar and his dedication for the game was commendable," Odedara told TOI.
A post-graduate in computer application, Ranpura has represented various teams including Porbandar, Bhavnagar and Saurashtra at various levels.
Rajeshsinh Jadeja, executive vice president at Porbandar District Cricket Association, said, "We are happy for both the players from Gujarat for being part of Oman's national side." Jadeja was a senior player at Duleep School when Lalcheta and Ranpura were playing school cricket.
Oman qualified for the ICC World Twenty20, 2016 tournament after convincingly beating the Netherlands, Afghanistan and Namibia. The team will arrive in Rajkot to play practice matches with the Saurashtra team ahead of the mega tournament.
Oman cricket team to play matches with Saurashtra teams
Rajkot: Oman Cricket, associate member of ICC has qualified for T20 World Cup to be played in March 2016. As part of the preparatory camp, a team of Oman Cricket will play T20 practice matches with Saurashtra's Ranji teams and under-23 team from December 21. All matches will be played at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Khandheri on the Rajkot-Jamnagar Highway.