CABThe Cricket Association of Bengal

Bengal can win Ranji Trophy this season: Laxman
7th September 2016
Lauding Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Sourav Ganguly for his Vision 2020 project, former teammate and iconic India batsman V V S Laxman today said that Bengal Team has the talent to win Ranji Trophy this season if they play to their potential.
Laxman has been appointed as the batting consultant for Bengal and is currently overseeing the U-23 crop of players. He is scheduled to come back again on September 17 and take charge of the Ranji probables.
"I am happy at the way Bengal Cricket is progressing. Like if you see they did well in the Ranji Trophy last year. They lost in the quarterfinals because of one bad batting performance in the first Innings where Madhya Pradesh got a big score and then in the second innings Bengal got a big score but still was not able to win the match,” Laxman told CAB in an interview.
"But other than this it was fantastic to see the way the batsmen did and also the bowlers. It was a good combined effort. I think they topped the table last year and I feel there is a lot of potential in this Bengal side. They started off well this season winning the KSCA tournament in Bangalore in which they played against some quality sides, including Mumbai. I believe if they play to their potential, they can win the Ranji Trophy this year," he added.
Bengal team went on to win the Dr. (Capt.) K Thimmappiah Memorial Cricket Tournament 2016 defeating KSCA XI by 6 wickets.
Talking about the pluses of winning Ranji Trophy, he said, “once they do that (win Ranji Trophy) automatically a lot of players will be getting chance in the national team. We talk about Karnataka and Mumbai and it’s because they go on to win the Ranji. I am convinced that this Bengal team has the potential to go on and win it."
Talking about the Vision 2020 campaign and the initiative taken by CAB, Laxman said: “I am doing this only because of Sourav (Ganguly). Once he became the President he called, almost persuaded me to pick up this role and I am always convinced that whatever responsibility Sourav (Ganguly) takes he does that with full commitment."
"It’s great to see Sourav taking up this responsibility of making sure that Bengal cricket goes forward. He excelled in whatever role has been assigned to, be it in the field of captaincy in the year 2000 when Indian cricket was going through a tough period or here. He transformed the way the Indian cricket team played while chasing runs and the entire mindset. Now even in administration he has done very well," he added.
Laxman praised Sourav for the way he organised the India-Pakistan match during the 50-Over World Cup.




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