Kolkata, Aug 18 (PTI) – India pacer Akash Deep and wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, the original East Zone captain, will be missing the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal against North Zone as both recuperate from injuries. The Duleep Trophy series, marking the season-opening matches, is scheduled to commence on August 28 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence grounds in Bengaluru. Akash, however, is still recovering from a back injury that sidelined him from two Tests during India’s recent tour of England. The 28-year-old has been replaced by Bihar's Mukhtar Hussain in the East Zone squad. Bengal pacer Akash showcased impressive performance against England, taking 13 wickets, including a notable 10-wicket match haul in Birmingham, and achieving a maiden Test half-century in the fifth Test at the Oval. He has informed the zonal selection committee of his unavailability due to medical advice. Currently undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence, Akash is expected to return during the home Test series against the West Indies starting October 2. Similarly, Ishan Kishan is on the mend from a hand injury. A source mentioned, "Ishan has a few stitches on his hand after falling off an e-bike and is recovering at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru." "Though it's not serious, he has been advised rest as a precaution." He is anticipated to be fit for the India A squad partaking in two four-day fixtures against Australia next month. In Kishan's absence, Bengal's top-order batter, Abhimanyu Easwaran, part of India's five-Test tour to England, has been appointed the East Zone captain, with Assam all-rounder Riyan Parag as vice-captain. Kishan's slot in the squad will be filled by Odisha's Aashirwad Swain, while Jharkhand's Kumar Kushagra is likely to be the first-choice wicketkeeper. Kishan was under consideration as a replacement for the injured Rishabh Pant before the fifth Test against England at The Oval. However, following multiple stitches from his e-bike mishap, N Jagadeesan from Tamil Nadu was eventually inducted as Pant's backup. The Duleep Trophy will also mark the return of veteran India pacer Mohammed Shami, who has participated in just one first-class match over the past two years, and joins forces with pacer Mukesh Kumar. Revised East Zone squad consists of Abhimanyu Easwaran (c), Riyan Parag (vc), Sandeep Patnaik, Virat Singh, Denish Das, Sridam Paul, Sharandeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra (wk), Aashirwad Swain (wk), Utkarsh Singh, Manishi, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Mukhtar Hussain, and Mohammed Shami.
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