GUWAHATI, Dec 23: Assam in its maiden appearance in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final will face Uttar Pradesh from tomorrow. The game would be held at NFRSA Stadium, Maligaon. After almost a wait of five years, Assam in this season managed to entire into the elite group of the Ranji Trophy and it also opened the door for them to play the quarter-final. Host side already made one change in their team as Rishav Das is included in the team in the place of wicket keeper batsman Rajdeep Das.

Talking to the mediapersons just after the final preparation at the Maligaon stadium today, Captain of the home team Amol Muzumdar said that his boys are ready to take the fancied

opponent which included players like Mohammedan Mohammed, Piyush Chawla and Rudra Pratap Singh. Muzumdar said, "It is the quarter-final of the Ranji Trophy and we knew it very well that our opponent is much stronger then the earlier opponents in this season. But still I hope my boys would be able to give good fight here also as I feel they are capable to do so."

On the other hand, coach Subhrajit Saikia felt that their elite group preparation would start from tomorrow. "We promoted to the top tier this season but I felt that our preparation will start from this match as in the next year we have to face those teams who would be of similar standards," said Saikia. He also added that there may be one extra batsman in the team dropping one pace bowler as the game would be held in Maliagon in mind the unpredictable behaviour of the wicket.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh who played the Ranji Trophy final last season, would be led by Team India discard Mohammed Kaif. The entire team did their final work out at the Maligaon stadium and later talking to the mediapersons Kaif today said that his team is not taking Assam lightly. "The team this season promoted to elite group and it is not possible unless the team performed consistently in the tournament."