Wriddhiman Saha has ruled out playing for Bengal in the upcoming Ranji Trophy knockouts. The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has given this information through a statement. According to the information, Saha has also left the WhatsApp group of Bengal’s Ranji team. His career started in the year 2007. Bengal will play their Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Jharkhand in Bangalore from June 6.
CAB President Abhishek Dalmiya said in a statement, “The Cricket Association of Bengal wanted Wriddhiman Saha to play for Bengal at this crucial juncture. Especially when Bengal will be playing in the knockout stage to win the Ranji Trophy after becoming the top team at the end of the group stage. I had conveyed this to Wriddhiman and requested him to reconsider his decision. However, Wriddhiman has now informed us that he is not ready to play Ranji Trophy knockouts.
A top CAB official told The Indian Express, “The 37-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, who has played 122 first-class matches, has already requested the state association for NOC. “What to do? If he’s so stubborn, we’ll have to give in to them. But no one should try to suppress the state union, because it is bigger than any individual.” A member of the Bengal team’s coaching staff said, “I will not comment on Saha’s decision to drop. But now that the picture is clear, we can plan accordingly.”
Saha did not play in the Ranji Trophy group stage after being dropped from the Indian Test squad for the two-match home series against Sri Lanka in February. The controversy that started after this is now at its peak. CAB joint secretary Devvrat Das had criticized Saha’s decision and publicly questioned his commitment. The player, on the other hand, strongly opposed the remarks of the CAB office-bearer and had cited illness of a family member as the reason for his unavailability.
Saha had a phone conversation with Abhishek after the announcement of the 22-man Bengal squad for the match against Jharkhand and he stood firm that the joint secretary had violated the boundary by commenting. He also said that the selectors should talk to him before choosing the team, as he did with Mohammed Shami.
The official said, “The CAB president has repeatedly told him that the state association has rejected the remarks. Still, Wriddhiman did not give up stubbornness. Even before the selection of the Ranji team, talks are held with the Indian players. We used to talk to Saha also when he was in the Indian team. Saha hasn’t been picked for the only Test in England, but he has done well for Gujarat Titans, scoring 312 runs in 10 matches in the IPL.