Suresh Raina is included in the UP Ranji squad for the upcoming season. The squad includes the likes of Akshdeep Nath, Ankit Rajpoot and former India Under-19 player Zeeshan Ansari as well. Though the selectors did not name any captain, Raina is expected to lead the team during the season.

Last year, he was named the captain of UP many times, but he skipped major part of the domestic season and played only three Ranji games. BCCI took a note of it, and he was dropped from central contract list, despite playing for India in three T20Is against England in January/February.

From then, he is yet to get selected in the Indian team for any international series.

Meanwhile, UP selectors also named the probable squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Praveen Kumar is a notable inclusion in the side. Though he has not named in the Ranji side, which means he is not a part of selectors plans in first-class cricket.

The exclusion of Sarfraz Khan has come out as a surprise. Knowing how promising he is despite not performing in recent times, it is a surprise to see him not getting a place in the probable squad as well.

The former India U-19 player had switched his base to Uttar Pradesh two years back, leaving Mumbai. He was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2017 but was later ruled out due to an injury. He was later replaced by Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Harpreet Singh Bhatia.

The selectors of UP also decided not to name Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Kuldeep Yadav in the squad, due to their international commitments. Though the press release from the board mentions that both will be back in the team whenever available.

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