Arun Lal picked as Bengal Ranji team mentor

After a poor performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the Bengal cricket administration led by former India captain Sourav Ganguly has decided to make amends and consequently, former Indian opener Arun Lal has been appointed as the team’s mentor ahead of the Ranji Trophy season. Ganguly, president of the Cricket Association of Bengal, said Lal is known for his knowledge of the game and hence the decision was taken.

Lal’s appointment, however, has raised question over the future of the current coach of Bengal Sairaj Bahutule who was absent at the team probables’ preparation camp under CAB Vision 2020 in Kolkata on October 22. The former Indian spinner was not available for comment either after the news of Lal’s appointment was confirmed, Times of India cited reports as saying.

Lal has been one of the most prolific scorers in domestic cricket

Lal himself is out of the country at the moment. He spoke to Anandabazaar Patrika (ABP) from Italy saying Ganguly himself called him up and asked him to take charge of the Bengal side and he could not refuse the offer which he thought gave him an honour. Lal has played 16 Tests and 13 ODIs for India in the 1980s and has been one of Bengal’s most prolific scorers in domestic cricket. He was one of the key architects of Bengal’s last Ranji Trophy title victory in 1989-90 and had scored over an average of 98 in that season. In first-class cricket, Lal has scored over 10,000 runs at an average of nearly 47 and has 30 centuries.

Lal though hasn’t yet decided over how to go about it. “I am returning to Kolkata on October 26 and will meet the team members the next day. Let me meet the squad first. Then we will decide how to proceed,” ABP quoted Lal as saying over phone.

Bengal’s team and support staff for the first two matches in Ranji Trophy will be picked on October 26 and they will leave base on October 29. The two-time champions’ first assignment is against Himachal Pradesh who they will play away, followed by the game against Madhya Pradesh at home.

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