The Manipur Cricket Association (MNCA) may well be optimistic about holding the state-team players’ pre-season camps in Imphal, but given the circumstances in the state, where normal life has been paralysed owing to ethnic clashes since May, most of the cricketers prefer doing their pre-season outside the state.

“Back home, we had to stay indoors and couldn’t go out as the situation there is far from ideal. All we could do is a bit of practice and training at home only.

“The situation is worse on the outskirts of Imphal and other adjoining areas. But in Imphal too, there’s a curfew and things aren’t quite normal there as well.

“So, most of the guys have either gone to other places, mostly Delhi or Bangalore for their pre-season, while some are at the NCA (National Cricket Academy in Bangalore),” Manipur left-arm quick Rex Rajkumar Singh, currently with the North East Zone squad in Pondicherry for the upcoming Deodhar Trophy, told The Telegraph on Tuesday.

“It’s very, very difficult to do the pre-season in Manipur. Under the circumstances, it’s obviously better to have it somewhere else.”

Over 160 people have lost their lives to the ethnic clashes in Manipur since May 3. Internet services have also been banned in the state for close to 80 days now, which has caused numerous hardships and bottlenecks even in medicine supplies.

Rex, along with his pace colleague P. Jotin Singh and Manipur captain LM Keishangbam, are the three cricketers from Manipur who are getting ready for the Deodhar Trophy. For Rex in particular, being a part of the Deodhar Trophy comes as a “massive relief”, especially after the tense moments he had to spend at home in Imphal.

Seventeen-year-old Jotin and Keishangbam, 25, had featured in the Duleep Trophy quarter final for North East Zone in Bangalore. But in Rex’s case, Manipur’s Ranji Trophy plate group final against Bihar in Patna back in January was his last competitive game.

“Obviously, it’s a massive relief as I can finally play some cricket. Not just for me, but for the others as well.

“We’re still worried about what’s happening in our state as the fights continue to go on. But being able to play some cricket gives us the scope to divert our minds for some time at least,” Rex stated.

The 22-year-old pacer holds the rare achievement of taking all 10 wickets in an innings during a Cooch Behar Trophy (BCCI’s U-19 red-ball tournament) match back in 2018.