'I don’t have anything against them' - Ashok Dinda after his fallout with the Bengal team

The right-arm quick Ashok Dinda criticised his former Ranji Trophy team, Bengal for ill treating him despite him spending 15 years of his career there. Dinda had emerged as the highest wicket-taker for Bengal since  past nine seasons but was suddenly dropped after just one game in the 2019-20 edition of the Ranji Trophy.

The Mona-born had a fued with the coaching staff of the Bengal as he didn’t get along with the newly-appointed coach Arun Lal, a former Bengal batsman. It was also reported that Dinda wasn’t on good terms with the bowling coach, Ranadeb Bose which eventually led to his omission from the Playing XI.

After this, Dinda also had a fall-out with the chief selector, Palash Nandy as well as Manoj Tiwary, former teammate. Ashok hasn’t featured in any first-class game since December 2019. Thus, he decided to move on from Bengal to Goa for the 2021 edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which will run from January 10 to 31 across 6 different venues in a bio-secure bubble.

Interestingly, Dinda is Bengal’s second most successful bowler after Utpal Chatterjee, with 420 first-class wickets in just 116 fixtures. The pacer also boasts of having 151 and 146 scalps in 98 List-A  games and 144 T20s, respectively.

My grievances are only against the team management: Ashok Dinda

Speaking about him joining the Goa team, Ashok Dinda asserted that he still harbours feelings for his home team, Bengal and isn’t happy with the way his association with his previous team ended.

“Of course I miss Bengal. I have given my blood and sweat for the team for 15 years. I don’t think any pacer has done that and I am proud of it. I know I don’t have many more days of cricket left in me, but I never thought that it would end in this manner,” Dinda told Times of India.

Dinda, who played 13 ODI and 9 T20Is for India along with 78 IPL matches, said that he doesn’t have any grudges for his home state but is definitely upset with the team management. The cricketer also believes in moving ahead and is looking forward to his new stint with the Goa team.

“As professional players, we know how to move ahead. I don’t have anything against Bengal cricket. After all, I played for India riding on my success for Bengal. My grievances are only against the team management,” he added.