UP have special special strategy for Yuvraj, Harbhajan: Raina

Kanpur: Keen to register outright wins in their remaining two Ranji league matches, Uttar Pradesh cricket captain Suresh Raina today said there is a definite strategy in place for opposition players Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh when his side hosts Punjab here tomorrow.

With the both the sides locked at 17 points after six matches, Green Park offers an exciting contest.

Raina, who scored an unbeaten 145 in the second innings of the team’s last drawn match against Tamil Nadu, said that the hosts have devised a strategy for Punjab greats Yuvraj and Harbhajan.

“Both Yuvraj and Harbhajan are very good friends of mine and I welcome them to the city. There’s no doubt that the two are great cricketers, but our team has certainly devised a special strategy for them which we will not tell but reveal on the cricket field,” Raina told reporters after the practice session here today.

Prodded on Piyush Chawla’s failure with the ball, Eaina said that all-rounder has done well with the bat and will certainly make the ball talk as well to help the team win the two remaining league games.

Raina also believes that Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s, who is on national duty, absence will not have an effect on the team balance as UP have a lot of talented youngsters.

With two wins and a single loss, UP are in the reckoning for a quarterfinal berth, while Punjab, who are placed a spot above the hosts at fourth in the table, also eye a last-eight entry.