Garstang CC bring back Indian professional for a second season

Garstang CC skipper Mark Walling is delighted the club has re-signed Punit Bisht as its overseas professional for the 2021 season.
Punit Bisht scored plenty of runs for Garstang last year   Picture: Tim Gilbert/Preston Photographic SocietyPunit Bisht scored plenty of runs for Garstang last year   Picture: Tim Gilbert/Preston Photographic Society
Punit Bisht scored plenty of runs for Garstang last year Picture: Tim Gilbert/Preston Photographic Society

The 34-year-old had been due to turn out for Garstang this year after a highly successful first season in 2019.

However, the pandemic forced clubs to re-evaluate their plans in the face of a shortened season with Bisht and Garstang agreeing to cancel his deal for 2020.

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The Indian has now been announced as a Garstang player for next year with the hope being he can make a similar impact to that in 2019.

Bisht repaid Garstang’s decision to make him their first professional last year, hitting 1,600 runs in all competitions at an average of more than 53 as they challenged for the Northern Premier Cricket League title.

Walling said: “We’re really pleased to have him back.

“I know he was really looking forward to coming over this year but we spoke with the agent and got it sorted early, which is a good position to be in.

“We just hope the circumstances allow him to come back and we’ve got a plan in place that the season is going to go back to normal. If not, we will have to reassess the situation.”

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Signing an overseas player can bring challenges, not least how they settle into their new surroundings and deal with team-mates – but Walling has no fears on those fronts.

He said: “On the field, he was brilliant and the stats back that up – he won us several games really.

“However, it’s also his impact off the field because he was a fantastic person to have around the club.

“He helped with the coaching, nobody had a bad word to say about him and that’s just as important as what happens on the field.

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“Obviously we’re hoping he replicates the form he showed in the 2019 season, and if he does, then we should have a good year.

“I don’t think we could have asked for anyone better really.”

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