New Delhi: Indian wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha has decided to keep his past differences with Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) administrators aside and help the state association revive their fortunes in domestic cricket.
Saha returned to Bengal cricket team just two years after falling out with the CAB and subsequently leaving for Tripura in the capacity of a player-mentor. It was comments from CAB joint-secretary Debabrata Das which forced Saha to part ways with his state side after a 15-year stint from 2007 to 2022. Das accused Saha of skipping Ranji Trophy 2022 knockout stage and questioned his commitment in the public domain.
As a result, the senior Bengal player later asked for the no-objection-certificate (NOC) from the CAB, which the state association obliged to. Nevertheless, the 39-year-old is back and is in no mood to think about the rift.
“I don’t think of the past or the future, but only stay in the present. And on that note, currently, all I am thinking about is about playing for Bengal. I have forgotten everything that happened in the past,” Saha told reporters at the Eden Gardens, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“But I am open to help Bengal in any capacity possible. Since I am a cricketer, I would be better off helping Bengal in coaching instead of any administrative role,” he added.
Saha not looking at retirement
The fallout with CAB happened at the same time after Saha was dropped from the Indian Test side by the then head coach Rahul Dravid, who personally asked the player to consider international retirement. Saha hasn’t declared any international retirment, though his last match in the Indian shirt was in December 2021.
The Bengal player is still playing in domestic cricket and in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with no retirement plans on the cards at the moment.
“I am not looking at retiring at the moment. When I will retire, I will leave all forms and all formats of cricket, but right now, I am focused on red-ball cricket, white-ball cricket, the IPL, and I’m available for everything,” he said.
“I will be managing my workload with one eye on my age, but I still have the drive to play cricket and see Bengal do well,” he added.
There is no official confirmation from CAB but Saha will be a contender to replace Manoj Tiwary as Bengal’s new domestic captain. Bengal endured a dismal domestic season in 2023-24, failing to progress from the group stage in Ranji Trophy, and eliminated in quarterfinals in Vijay Hazare Trophy and pre-quarters in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Wriddhiman Saha returned to Bengal cricket team just two years after falling out with the CAB and subsequently leaving for Tripura in the capacity of a player-mentor. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
