Vadodra: The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) has roped in Sri Lanka pacer Dilhara Fernando for the upcoming Ranji tournament. BCA hopes that Fernando together with Munaf Patel will strengthen the pace attack of the Baroda team.

Fernando has been hired in the category of foreign players wherein every cricketing association has been allowed to have one international player in their Ranji team.

The contract is being considered as a prize catch as he is one of the most experienced fast bowlers in Sri Lanka. He has played 30 Test matches and 128 One-day Internationals till date. While he has taken 84 wickets in Test matches, the figure of scalps for ODIs is 163.

Fernando made his debut for Sri Lanka Test team in the year 2000 and clocked above 90 miles per hour in the past. Sources in BCA hinted that Fernando might be paid the same fees as is paid to any other Ranji player. Since 2005-06, BCCI has been paying players Rs one lakh for a five-day match in Ranji tournament.

Munaf Patel's inclusion came as a surprise as he had been representing Maharashtra Ranji team for last three years. "Our wickets support fast bowlers and hence we were looking for a pace bowler. Fernando and Munaf's presence will help us a lot and our youngsters too will learn a lot from them," said a senior BCA official.

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Tags: dilhara fernando, bca, baroda, munaf patel, ranji trophy, sri lanka.