Sandeep Sarkar, Kolkata: Who will be the coach of Bengal’s senior cricket team? Who can be seen as support staff? Who can get the responsibility as coach of U-23, U-19 or U-16 teams?
Ever since the CAB issued a circular on Friday, April 24, seeking coaches for senior and all-age teams, speculation has been rife. Whether Laxmiratan Shukla will be seen as the coach of Bengal’s senior team, or CAB can give the responsibility to someone else, there is no end to the practice. After issuing the CAB notification, Lakshmi herself told ABP Live Bangla that she will sit in a meeting with Sourav Gangopadhyay. Only then will you outline the future. Whether he would apply to become a coach or not, also depended on Lakshmi Ratan’s meeting with the CAB president. Many people were also interested in the Sourav-Lakshmi meeting in Maidan.
According to CAB sources, the much awaited meeting took place on Sunday. Lakshmi Ratan had a long discussion with Sourav, also discussing the contours of Bengal cricket, according to CAB’s reliable sources.
As soon as the news of Sourav-Lakshmi meeting became known, the speculation started, then who will be the coach of the senior team of Bengal has been finalized? After searching in CAB, it was found that Sourav had initial conversation with Lakshmi. On April 24, CAB issued a notification asking for coaches. The deadline to apply is May 1. It is said that those who have applied will be seen on the evening of May 1. It will be looked into whether anyone from outside the state is applying to become a coach or not. Shortlisted applicants will be called for interview. CAB is not revealing who has applied to become the coach of the senior team. However, it is reported that there are former cricketers who played for India in that list.
According to the CAB sources, plans are being made to give responsibility to Laxmirathan initially. Since 2022, Lakshmi Ratan has been in charge as the coach of the Bengal team. During his tenure, the Bengal team also played in the Ranji Final. But the trophy did not come. It is being said that Bengal has to be knocked out by playing badly in any one session in the knock out phase. CAB thinks that the coach has nothing to do here. It is said that at this stage, the coach’s work is mainly about man management, there is nothing to teach cricketers like Mohammed Shami, Anushtup Majumder, Abhimanyu Iswaran, Shahbaz Amed, Akash Deep or Mukesh Kumar anew, but it is important to guide them in the right direction, it is said on behalf of CAB.
By analyzing the performance of the cricketers, it has been seen that many are getting out by playing loose shots under pressure. Fatigue is becoming a thorn in the side for some of the CAB. In that case, CAB has designed to put more emphasis on the fitness of the cricketers. That is why there may be some changes in posts like support staff, physio-trainer.
Election results will be declared in the state on May 4. But three days before that, who applied to be the coach of the Bengali cricket team, can get a glimpse. Even in the election climate, there is a heated debate about it.
