Picture Credit: CabCricket
Bengal U-23 coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla has deployed strict rules for players who will be training under him. Not only are the young cricketers to stay away from social media, those with long hair will also have to chop off their locks before they can improve their game. Notably, the fitness camp for the Bengal U-23 players began with 60 cricketers with Shukla at the helm on Monday.
One of the earliest training sessions of the camp lasted for over four hours. Several reports carried by credible media organisations have confirmed that there is nothing which will come easy for players with Shukla as the mentor as he has been really stringent with some of his policies.
They have to maintain decorum and discipline: Shukla
"I have told the boys not to post anything on social media. They have to maintain decorum and discipline. Those with long hair will need to pay a visit to the saloons immediately. Thirdly they will have to learn Bengali for team bonding," he was quoted as saying in a statement by Cricket Association of Bengal.
"The supply line from junior to senior team is very important and that’s why I have chosen to work with the junior cricketers. I want to see more cricketers coming up from the districts for both boys and girls. CAB is very serious about the district games as well as the club games and the association is doing everything they can for the progress. Now we have to recognize the talents from the districts, keep our eyes open for young talents from every corner of the state," he added.
The former cricketer does not see himself as a coach but as someone who would help the players. When quizzed about his mantra for success, Shukla replied that it is all about making efforts and allowing players to give their best.
Post his cricketing highs, Shukla joined Trinamool Congress in 2016 where he was a minister of State, youth affairs and sports before resigning from that post in January 2021. Shukla has represented the national team in three ODIs but could not make s lasting impact and was never into the scheme of things for the national side despite a fairly decent IPL stint.