Manoj Tiwary back as Bengal captain after Shukla steps aside

Kolkata: The senior selection committee of Bengal appointed Manoj Tiwary as the captain of the senior state team for their Ranji Trophy opener against Ranji Trophy champions Karnataka from October 8-11.

Tiwary was reappointed captain after Laxmi Ratan Shukla informed the selectors about his unwillingness to continue through text messages amid reports of a controversy in the team during their pre-season tour to Sri Lanka.

Selection committee chairman Raju Mukherjee and Tiwary however asserted all was well in the team.

"It's like a very happy family now. We look forward to your support to do well," Mukherjee said.

Admitting that there were some controversy ahead of the season, Tiwary said:"There would not be any more controversy again this season as I along with the support of coach (Sairaj Bahutule) would handle any such issue."

On Shukla's stepping down, Tiwary said:"He has been a solid contributor to the team and he understands his role and I'm sure he'll definitely play his role happily."

Helped by batting consultant VVS Laxman's tips, Tiwary said he's sorted out the technical issues in the footwork.

"I am now feeling good about my batting after some technical adjustments. My focus is to be the top run getter this season and lift the Ranji Trophy."

There's no place for Saurashish Lahiri as an uncapped Aamir Gani has been picked ahead of the veteran off-spinner in the 15-member squad which is further boosted by the signing of former India left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.

"It's not that we dropped Lahiri, rather we are giving Gani an opportunity. The doors are still open for Lahiri," the selection committee chairman said.

The squad has three specialist openers in Naved Ahmed, who has scored heavily in club cricket over last 7-8 years, Abhishek Das and veteran Partha Sarathi Bhattacharjee, who is making a comeback after three seasons.

There are four uncapped members in the squad which includes Gani, Ahmed, middle-order batsman Pankaj Shaw and right-arm pacer Mukesh Kumar.

Squad: Manoj Tiwary (c), Naved Ahmed, Sreevats Goswami, Sudip Chatterjee, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Pankaj Shaw, Ashok Dinda, Veer Pratap Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Pragyan Ojha, Sourav Sarkar, Partha Sarathi Bhattacharjee, Aamir Gani, Abhishek Das.