Sandeep Sarkar, Kolkata: He is a soldier of many battles in Bengal cricket. As the opener handled the venomous swing of the new ball efficiently. He started coaching after retirement from cricket. Became the coach of Bengal under 16 cricket team Arindam Das (Arindam Das). This time when the CAB issued a notification seeking coaches for different age groups, he also applied. But CAB did not call him for interview. Anushtup Majumdar has been coached under 16 team of Bengal. And then the explosive Arindam. Maidan is known as ‘Don’. He stayed away from controversies in his career. eloquent But he could not accept the way CAB ignored him. In an uncharacteristic way, the bomb exploded against the governing body of Bengal cricket.

“I applied and did not get a response”

He also coached Bengal’s under-16 team last season. Arindam also applied this time. He said, ‘I applied to be the coach of the under-16 team of Bengal. However I did not get a call for the interview process. I did not get any response to the application. I was the coach of Bengal under 16 team for four years. However I joined a little late in the first year. I became a coach after Fuchada (Pranab Roy).I look after the planning and preparation completely from next year onwards. I got Saurabh Sarkar as an assistant. We both started working together. How was the performance of the team during our period? In the following two years we went undefeated in the group stage and reached the quarter finals in the under 16 stage of the Vijay Merchant Trophy. 6-7 players have played in the Under 19 team, even in the senior team.’

‘Did not get support from CAB’

Arindam sensationally complained that CAB did not cooperate towards the end of his tenure. He said, ‘The team changes every time at the under-16 level. Once the age limit is crossed, those cricketers have to be released. That is, a cricketer may have to be released in the next season after being developed for a year. He may have gone to the Under 19 level. Every time we have to build a new team. It’s an added challenge. We tried to create a different culture starting at Under 16 level. Where not only the sons of rich families from reputed camps in Calcutta or neighboring areas, but also the economically backward promising ones of the district will be given adequate opportunities. I found several such talents. Like Siliguri Sky favors. His father drives a van. And Highest wicket taker. Then Ankit Chatterjee. Coming from the remote village of Bangaon. He played Ranji for Bengal. In one year, two boys have come up from under 16 and are playing in the senior team of Bengal, I will call it my success. Rohit Yadav is up. Although he did not play in the under 16 team as per board rules, he played in the under 19 team. If someone asked me what I did, I would say I built a supply line. Many boys from the U16 team have played in the U19 team. Getting called up to the senior team. Maybe I could have done better with the support of CAB. In the end, I did not get the support of CAB.’

“The last boy of the rich school is better than the first boy of the poor school!”

Arindam sensationally alleged that the CAB did not insist on bringing up cricketers from the district at the U-16 level, but instead created obstacles. He had a varied experience while coaching Bengal at the under-16 level. Wanted to bring the cricketer from the district faced resistance. Who was stuck? CAB! Arindam told a surprising story. said, ‘CAB does not conduct large-scale trials. I wanted to set up a trial on a larger scale. Where talented players can be found from every district. There are many people in the district who may not be known. This is not the senior team, which Mohammed Shami is playing. Who need not be identified separately. Looking at all the promising cricketers in the district in the trial, it would at least look good No talent was overlooked. I wanted a large scale trial. CAB didn’t let me do that. They used to select 60-70 boys and tell me, these are the best. I have asked many times, there is no better left-arm spinner, no wicketkeeper? Or not a loud bowler? I was told, no, these are the best. A team should be formed from them. There is no trial with 70 people. In our childhood, 200-300 players used to come for trials. There were different zones. Maybe a good one was found from some western district. Maybe someone was found from North Bengal. Those who play in the famous academy of Calcutta, will they only get the opportunity to represent Bengal? By asking this question I was told, The last boy of a rich school is better than the first boy of a poor school.’

Selection of vision cricketers sitting in a cold room!

Arindam blasted that there were irregularities in the selection of cricketers of the Vision project. Said, ‘Last year when the BPL was going on, the junior selection committee sat in a cold room and chose 20-25 cricketers for vision. Even then there was no trial for the under 16 team. don’t know What did they add, subtract, multiply and divide by looking at the paper. I protested verbally. Under 16 How vision cricketers can be selected before the trial! Being taken to the vision camp means that the cricketer will have to play in the under 16 team of Bengal. I told the CAB verbally, how does this happen!’

‘I wanted to have a review meeting but I did not get a reply’

Arindam says, ‘Last season in U-16 cricket did not go well for us. But the team that played well before, they suddenly failed why! Wanted to talk to CAB repeatedly about this. I have proposed a review meeting to CAB. I didn’t get a response. Review meetings are held in all cricket organizations in all states. At least I have not experienced such a meeting in the last three years. Let me tell you one thing, ever since the U-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy was launched, Bengal has never been a champion. Are all coaches bad?’

‘Congratulations to Ruku, but…’

Arindam says, ‘Ruku (Anushtup Majumder’s nickname) has got the responsibility of Bengal U16 team. He is like my younger brother. Congratulations to him. But no other figures worked behind the scenes to coach him! Sourashis Lahiri has complained, nothing like that happened in the under-16 team! What is the permutation-combination in the selection of coaches! If the combination changes tomorrow, will someone else be coached in Ruku’s place? What will happen to the system? The system is a failure. It is a systemic failure. If you coach, I will retire, if not, I will play! Hearing this, common people think that you left Gunpoint and got a job. Coaching is not available subject to conditions. Everyone played cricket. After leaving the game, I gained experience by coaching various teams. However, I have come to coach Bengal. After leaving the game, how is the responsibility without coaching experience! Whether I coach or not, it doesn’t matter. If there is cricket in Bengal, we are there. If there is no cricket in Bengal, there will be no Anushtup Majumdar. Wriddhiman Saha will not be there. Manoj Tiwari will not be there. There will be none. Cricket exists, therefore we exist. We have no identity other than cricket.’

‘Cricket Association of Kolkata should be done’

Arindam alleged that CAB is hesitating to pick up cricketers from the district. Saying, ‘If only the sons of well-to-do families in Kolkata and adjacent districts play in the Bengali team, then Change the name from Cricket Association of Bengal to Cricket Association of Kolkata. Does anyone play cricket outside of Calcutta or adjacent areas? No talent? then How did Shiv Shankar Pal emerge from Cooch Behar? How did Ashok Dinda come from a remote village in Medinipur? How did Wriddhiman Saha come from Siliguri? Today, Malda, Medinipur, Dinajpur, Burdwan, Jalpaiguri – where are the district cricketers! If cricket is limited to Calcutta, how is the cricket of Bengal!’

The selectors-scouts do not see the match!

Arindam says, ‘Selectors don’t watch U-16 matches. In the last two years, only one selector has attended an Under-16 match. He is Praveer Acharya. The rest of the selectors have never seen an under-16 match in the Vijay Merchant Trophy. They don’t know how a Mumbai left-arm bowler bowls. Even those who have been tasked by the CAB to bring talent from the district have never seen an U-16 team play. Can’t say which team has won U16 cricket in the last three years. Ranji Trophy You can’t sit and judge the under-16 team.

Local cricket matches are shown in the face of objections!

CAB was dismayed to watch the second division league match of local cricket at Maidan to make the under 16 team of Bengal! Arindam made such a sensational complaint. He said, ‘I watched the local cricket match in Maidan on my own responsibility. I have been told, why is it working? It’s not the coach’s job, it’s the selectors’ job. I feel self-esteem. Leave the field. But this is how Ankit Chatterjee was found. A player cannot be made by sitting at home and looking at the scoresheet. We don’t have an academy, which other states have. So more boys should be called in the trial. Must watch local cricket.’ He also said, ‘We were sent back by bus because we did not qualify. What happens to the U-19, U-23 teams if they don’t qualify?’