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LA contracts for Mumbai cricketers

Four Mumbai cricketers -- Manoj Joglekar, Kiran Powar, Amol Rane and Maroof Khan -- have got lucrative contracts of US $3500 each, for ten weeks, to play club cricket in Los Angeles.

The four, who represented Victory Cricket Club (VCC) in the four-team Independence Cup organised by the Southern California Cricket Association (SCCA) recently, performed very well and helped their team finish runners-up.

The tournament was held at the Woodly Park Grounds, where an India A team had played a five-match series against Australia A last year.

VCC had lost to Jamaica Cricket Club, with West Indian spinner Nehemiah Perry in their ranks, in the final. Occasional India player Jatin Paranjpe, and Vinit Sarang were declared the best batsman and bowler of the tournament respectively.

Mayank Khandwalla, who was one of the organisers of the tour along with former Test all-rounder Karsan Ghavri, told PTI in Los Angeles today that this would be a new avenue for Mumbai and India players to sharpen their game during the off season.

"Many Pakistani and Sri Lankan cricketers play over here, and it will be a good experience for the Indian youngsters to rub shoulders with them," Khandwalla said.

Powar and Rane have been signed up by Hollywood Cricket Club, while left-hander Joglekar and all-rounder Maroof Khan have joined Colts Cricket Club and United Cricket Club respectively.