Mohun Bagan cricket team on Monday sprang a surprise, registering high-profile Sri Lankan duo of Chaminda Vaas and Tillakaratne Dilshan for the entire season.
Left arm pacer Vaas, who has been overlooked by the Sri Lankan selectors for the one-day series against Pakistan, will arrive tomorrow night to play for the ongoing JC Mukherjee Trophy Twenty20 tournament.
Middle-order talented batsman Dilshan, on the other hand, will remain busy with the Pakistan tour and hence will not be available for the ongoing Twenty20 tournament.
Vaas will play for Mohun Bagan from the quarterfinal of the Twenty20 tournament. Mohun Bagan's quarterfinal is on January 14 at Eastern Railway Sports Association ground.
"We have registered both of them with the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) today... Having already made the quarterfinal, Mohun Bagan will have Vaas in their line-up. But, unfortuantely, Dilshan will be busy with his country committments so won't get him as of now. I spoke to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chief Duleep Mendis who gave his consent," Mohun Bagan assistant general secretary Srinjoy Basu said.
In fact, Mohun Bagan first approached Sanath Jayasuriya.
"This has happened in three-four days' time. I first got in touch with Jayasuriya, who cited his unavailibilty and from him only I got the contacts of Vaas and Dilshan. They are very soft-spoken and agreed to play for us," Basu said.
The duo have been signed by Mohun Bagan for the entire season and, country committments permitting, they will play club cricket, the sources said.
"The two-day league, P. Sen Trophy and knock-out tournament are yet to come this season and we are hopeful of getting them provided they are free with their country committments," he added.
"I am sure, their participation will revive the club cricket. If Vaas or Dilshan play here, there will be crowds and enthusiasm. Our boys will also get to learn many things playing with the experienced duo," Basu said.
Mohun Bagan is skippered by Bengal batsman Manoj Tewary, while former Ranji cricketer Abdul Munayem is the coach.
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