Overview

• Akash Deep will miss East Zone’s Duleep Trophy campaign after being withdrawn and replaced by Assam pacer Mukhtar Hussain.
• Reports attribute his omission to post-tour discomforts following India’s England Test series, but the BCCI and Centre of Excellence have not provided an official reason.
• Mukhtar Hussain has claimed 132 wickets in 40 first-class matches at an average of 28.25 and bowls at around 140 kmph.
• The updated East Zone squad is captained by Ishan Kishan with Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar expected to lead the pace attack in Deep’s absence.
• East Zone will open its Duleep Trophy quarter-final against North Zone in Bengaluru on August 28.