Shillong, Nov 7: Meghalaya’s Debasmita Dutta (pictured) was named as the captain of the North East team for the Senior Women’s Inter-Zonal T20 Trophy 2026-27, which will be played from 24th November to 4th December in Guwahati.
Dutta had an excellent run in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy 2026-27 plate group, bagging three Player of the Match awards. The other player from Meghalaya to be selected in the squad was Neha Hajong, while Luiza Tamang was listed among five standbys.
A meeting to decide the composition of the team was held on 5th November with selectors from the six zonal states – Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim – plus the Zonal Convener Rayonald Kharkamni and IPL Governing Council member Mamon Mazumdar.
On Thursday, after detailed deliberation, including verification of statistics of performance of the players participated in various BCCI tournaments during the domestic season 2025-26 and the recently concluded Senior Women’s T20 Trophy tournament, 15 players were selected to represent the North East zonal team.
A pre-tournament camp is scheduled to be held from 16th to 21st November. This will be hosted by the Sikkim Cricket Association at the RBDCA Cricket ground in Nongkhrah, Ri-Bhoi.
Interestingly, the meeting came one day before it was confirmed by the Meghalaya Cricket Association Ombudsman Justice (retd) BD Agarwal that Kharkamni, the MCA Honorary Secretary, would remain suspended from his position until December 2028 over his handling of a sexual harassment scandal in the MCA.
Kharkamni was appointed as the Zonal Convener on 25th October, before the Meghalaya High Court passed its verdict (on 30th October) on petitions raised by Kharkamni and MCA President James PK Sangma MP. After the court order, the Ombudsman was able to conclude the matter of the Honorary Secretary’s suspension yesterday.
The choice of Nongkhrah is noteworthy as it falls under the home district of Kharkamni, though its proximity to Guwahati might have been the deciding factor in choosing it.
North East Zone squad: Nabam Yakar, Kalpana Keisham, Debasmita Dutta (C), Lalhriatpuii (VC), Primula Chettri, Limatola Ao, Pretika Chettri, Samayita Pradhan, Vanlalruatpuii, Barkatun Khanam, Nabam Yapu, Neha Hajong, Lalnunmawii, ZD Lalnunhrili, Sentilemla Imsong
Standbys: Vanlalremtluangi, Luiza Tamang, RK Linthoingambi, Leezamit, D Popi
Support staff: Nitesh Sharma (coach), R Lalhlimpuia (assistant coach), Nabam Nake (physio), Bunty Khoibam (trainer), Meena Chetri (masseuse), Nikika Zhimomi (manager)
(File photo)
