Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa’s senior men’s cricket team will travel to Oman for a 10 day pre season tour from August 8 to 18, where it will play three One Day matches and two T20 games against the Oman national team in preparation for the upcoming domestic season.
The overseas tour is aimed at providing Goa’s players with valuable match experience against international opposition before the start of a busy domestic campaign. The Goa Cricket Association believes the exposure will help the squad raise its competitive standards and better prepare for the challenges of the new season.
Goa will also enter the campaign under new leadership, with former India all rounder Dinesh Mongia taking over as head coach. Mongia replaces Milap Mewada, who has moved to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. A member of India’s 2003 World Cup squad, Mongia played 57 One Day Internationals and is expected to bring significant experience and guidance to the developing team.
The association said the Oman tour will allow players to test themselves against an established international side while gaining valuable exposure before domestic competitions begin.
Goa will retain Lalit Yadav and V. Koushik as its outstation professional players for the upcoming season. However, uncertainty remains over the future of left arm pacer Arjun Tendulkar, who has not yet confirmed whether he will continue with the team.
With no decision yet from Tendulkar, the Goa Cricket Association has started exploring other options and is considering the addition of a third guest player to strengthen the squad.
The association had also explored appointing an experienced India international from Mumbai in a dual role as mentor and captain. However, the proposal did not move forward after the player declined to relocate.
Goa is expected to finalise its playing squad and support staff before the team departs for Oman next week, with the tour marking the beginning of a new chapter under Mongia’s leadership.
