Former Bengal all-rounder Laxmi Ratan Shukla returned to the cricketing fold when he was appointed as the Bengal U-23 coach ahead of the new season. Shukla had called it quits from all forms of cricket in order to join politics back in 2016. He became an MLA from Howrah and then served as the minister of State Sports and Youth Services under Aroop Biswas.
The former all-rounder was made the Howrah district president of TMC but stepped down from his post before the last assembly polls in order to return to cricket and give his time to the game. “Let’s work together. Looking forward,” is what Shukla had to say after his appointment as the Bengal U-23 coach.
Meanwhile former India legend VVS Laxman has been retained as the batting consultant for the senior team while Shib Shankar Paul, a former Bengal fast bowler was appointed as the bowling coach of all the Bengal squads.
"On behalf of the Association, I wish the Former Cricketers who have been given newer responsibilities all the best and am confident that they would be able to use their wealth of experience to help Bengal Cricket earn laurels in the forthcoming domestic season," CAB president Avishek Dalmiya was quoted as saying in a statement.
There have been some changes made to the personnel in the women’s team. Rituparna Roy has been appointed as the head coach while Charanjit Singh would serve as the assistant coach of the senior women’s team.
"We have made some new appointments keeping in mind their merit and talents. We want Bengal cricket to shine and we have made changes that we deemed fit to that end," CAB Secretary Snehashis Ganguly was quoted as saying by PTI.
"We wish the new appointees all the best and hope they can get the best out of the various Bengal teams,” he further added.