Kohima, Dec 20 (ANI) : The Nagaland Cricket Association has announced its under-16 and under-19 cricket teams that will participate in the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) zonal tournament for the first time after getting affiliation with the board.

It may not be long before we may see a cricketer from Nagaland emulating the feats of Sachin Tendulkar.Boys from Nagaland Cricket Association are practicing hard and sweating it out their for their first ever-official zonal cricket tournament that begins in Chattisgarh.

The squad will be the first official team to represent the state of Nagaland under Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI).

“Since this is our first time, we are going our participation to the tournament we are going to the tournament will be more important to the tournament than winning. No doubt we will be trying to win the tournament but the thing is that particularly in a tournament under BCCI. This is a great achievement for us,” said P Bendang NCA vice president.

Convener of the Nagaland Cricket Development Committee A Rahman said : “We should bring a reputation for Nagaland and show BCCI that young cricketers are well equipped with rules and regulations of cricket and this tournament would bring us closer to the National Ranji Trophy, which is the highest cricketing award in India.”

The Nagaland Cricket Association, the governing body of the Cricket activities in the state, selected 46 players from across Nagaland and trained them at the Dimapur District Sport Council Stadium.

Players, coaches and team management are optimistic about the two teams. The under 19 team is lead by Imliwati Lemtur, Tovi Yeptho is leading the under-16 team. Winning over more experienced teams might be difficult for Naga teams, but the exposure at the national level will certainly help them in the future. (ANI)