Cricket Association of Bengal announced that the local tournaments of First Division, Second Divison, and District, will be put on hold after certain players tested positive for COVID-19.

Keeping in mind the current pandemic situation, the CAB had conducted RTPCR Tests of all Bengal cricketers. "The results have come & it has been found certain players had tested positive. CAB is taking all necessary precautions & actions in this regard," stated an official CAB release.

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"The CAB is also taking immediate steps to vaccinate the registered players who fall in the 15-18 age bracket. The health and safety of the Cricketers and all concerned in the paramount to the association."

an official CAB notice stated

The CAB has also announced that an Emergency Apex Council has been convened to take necessary decisions and review the current COVID situation.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly confirmed that the Ranji Trophy will go ahead as per schedule

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly confirmed that the Ranji Trophy will go ahead as per schedule. The BCCI has decided to host the tournament across five venues from January 13.

The tournament has been canceled last year due to the pandemic. But this time the BCCI has decided to host the tournament this time around across five venues from January 13. The tournament will be continuing for a couple of months. However, now the Omicron variant forced a spike in COVID cases. There were apprehensions that the Board might have to postpone the tournament for a while.

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A BCCI top brass made it clear that with a stricter bio-bubble, there "should not be a problem" in hosting the tournament. The group stage fixtures will be held in Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, and Chennai. Meanwhile, the knockout stage fixtures will be played in Kolkata.

The Cricket Association of Bengal unveiled the trophy for the first season of the Bengal Pro T20 League in Kolkata on Friday. In the presence of former India captains Sourav Ganguly and Jhulan Goswami, the names of the eight franchises and their marquee players were announced in front of the media. The tournament will start on June 11.

This will be the first time that Bengal will organise their own T20 cricket league after failing to make it happen in previous years. After the successful first-ever pink ball match in India in 2016, CAB were eyeing to become to first state association to organise a T20 league. Since then, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and many other state associations have successfully organised their T20 leagues and their players have benefited from that well.

Know more about the tournament structure of the Bengal Pro T20 League 2024.

However, the fans and players of Bengal had to wait till 2024 to put an end to the question of when Bengal will have its own T20 league. Though, there are a few players from Bengal who are featuring in the Indian Premier League, Bengal as a white-ball team have not been consistent enough in the domestic circuit in the recent past. 

Bengal fans feel this league, if done successfully can bring some good homegrown talent in white-ball format, not only in men's cricket, but in women's too.

Though CAB could not be the first to organise their T20 league, they now have become the first association to have both men's and women's leagues. The Bengal Pro T20 League will have eight franchises with 8 men's and women's teams which will broaden Bengal's strength in Women's Cricket too.

Citing the success of Abishek Porel and Richa Ghosh in both IPL and WPL respectively, Sourav Ganguly said, This is a new era. We are getting to witness something special. T20 cricket is evolving with each passing day and the launch of Bengal Pro T20 League will surely help Bengal cricket in days to come. I hope the men's and women's cricketers will be benefitted immensely." 

"With IPL growing hugely, I hope players from Bengal will represent IPL surely in the coming years. I wish all the players the best for the forthcoming league," he added.

Women's cricket legend Jhulan Goswami feels this league will bring more players from Bengal who will represent many teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women's Premier League (WPL). 

"To be able to witness the Bengal Pro T20 League launch is truly amazing. I would like to thank the CAB for making this possible. I wish all the players who will be participating to give their best and win it for their team.," Jhulan Goswami said. 

"This league will surely help bring forward more talent from Bengal who will represent IPL and Women's Premier League in the coming years," she added.

CAB President Snehasish Ganguly is also hopeful that the Bengal Pro T20 League will become one of the best leagues in India and will help to create a pool of talent from Bengal in the future days. 

"I would like to thank all the CAB office bearers, franchises and everyone involved in helping this league come together. Bengal Pro T20 League is shaping up to become one of the marquee leagues. The league will help bring forward a pool of talent from Bengal in days to come. I wish all the players the very best who will represent the eight teams," Snehasish Ganguly expressed.

8 teams along with the men and women marquee players for the inaugural season

Lux Industries & Shyam Steel Consortium: Kolkata Royal Tigers - Abishek Porel & Mita Paul

GD Mining: Harbour Diamonds- Manoj Tiwary & Sukanya Parida 

Rashmi Group: Rashmi Medinipur Wizards - Abhimanyu Easwaran & Richa Ghosh 

ServoTec Power Systems: Servotec Siliguri Strikers - Akash Deep & Priyanka Bala 

Shrachi Group: Rarh Tigers - Shahbaz Ahmed & Titas Sadhu 

Adamas University: Adamas Howrah Warriors - Anustup Majumdar & Dhara Gujjar 

Sobisco Ltd: Malda Sobisco Smashers, Mukesh Kumar & Hrishita Basu 

Pritam Electricals & Jalan Builders Consortium: Murshidabad Kings - Sudip Gharami & Deepti Sharma

India and Bengal batter Manoj Tiwary withdrew his decision to retire from all forms of cricket on Tuesday. He announced his retirement on Thursday last week. "The decision taken by me was a sudden one. I was selfish in taking this decision as this might have hurt my family, teammates and fans," Manoj said in a press conference held at the Media Center of the Eden Gardens on Tuesday.

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Tiwary last played for India in 2015 against Zimbabwe for an ODI series, scoring 34 runs in three ODIs. Before that, Tiwary got an opportunity in the India squad during the 2011–12 season. He made his highest score of 104 not out against West Indies in Chennai before being dropped soon after. Manoj played 12 ODIs and three T20Is between 2008 and 2015. He was part of the India squad for the 2012 T20 World Cup, but didn't get a game.

"My wife also scolded me after I posted the announcement on social media. After that, I spoke to Snehashish (da), and he convinced me to play for Bengal for one more season. The love and respect I got from CAB is unforgettable, and you must remember that what CAB does for its players is unparalleled. I would like to apologise to fans and my well-wishers, and I hope to give my best next season and bring glory to Bengal," He said while announcing his withdrawl. 

Tiwary has scored over 9,000 runs at an average of 48-plus, with 29 hundreds and 45 fifties. His highest score of is an unbeaten 303. Bengal finished as the Ranji Trophy runner-up last season under Tiwary's captaincy. Manoj Tiwary also played for Kolkata Knight Riders, Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils) and Punjab Kings in the IPL (Indian Premier League). He is currently West Bengal's Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports.

Avisek Porel remained unbeaten on 45 and helped Mohun Bagan to reach the Semi-Final of the P. Sen Memorial Trophy. Mohun Bagan faced Barisha Sporting Club in the J U 2nd Campus Ground, Salt Lake, Kolkata. Barisha Sporting scored 211 runs after batting first courtesy of Agniv Pan's brilliant knock of 67 runs. Mohun Bagan then chased it down in just 46 overs with the help of Rishab Mishra (44) & Kazi Junaid Saifi's (57) partnership. Avisek Porel took out the rest from there and took Mohun Bagan over the line.

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Meanwhile, Bhowanipur defeated Town Club and reached the Semi-Final. Town Club only managed to score 209 runs as they got bowled out after Jesal Karia picked up 3 wickets. Anustup Majumdar led Bhowanipur to victory with an impressive half-century.

Barisha Sporting Club vs Mohun Bagan AC

Barisha Sporting batted first. Ritwik & Ankit Shukla opened for them but couldn't found the start they were looking for. Deepak Punia picked up four wickets which dismantled the batting lineup of Barisha Sporting. The wicket-keeper batter Agniv Pan fought alone and scored 67 runs for his team which helped them to reach a respectable total.

Mohun Bagan then chased it down in just 46 overs with the help of Rishab Mishra (44) & Kazi Junaid Saifi's (57) partnership. Avisek Porel took out the rest from there by sscoring 45 runs and took Mohun Bagan over the line.

Town Club vs Bhowanipur Club

Saksham Chaudhary lost his wicket early but the skipper Naved Ahmad held his ground and built a brilliant partnership with Rituraj Sharma. Sandipan Das didn't allow them to continue the partnership and got away with the wicket of Rijuraj. Sandeep Tomar (58) was the man who picked up the load of Town Club from there and helped the team to reach a good total. Jesal Karia took 3 wickets and took full control of the match. Bhowanipur chased the target of 210 quite comfortably in just 40 overs and qualified for the Semi-Final.

Town Club dismantled the batting lineup of MD Sporting Club in the 1st Semi-Final of the CAB 1st Division Play-Off Championship and one of the reasons was Shreyan Chakraborty's brilliant spell. He picked up two crucial wickets to help the team reach the Final. Town Club have a chance to go on and clinch the trophy by defeating Kalighat in the Final on 25th May, Thursday. Shreyan shared their story about the road to the Final in an Exclusive Interview.

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MD Sporting Club were only able to score 219 runs. Ravikanth Shukla was their highest scorer with 46 runs and guess what, Shreyan was the man who dismissed him in the important situation. Naved Ahmad, the skipper of Town Club led the chase and won it by 5 wickets. He remained not out till the end with 87 runs. Saksham Chaudhary accompanied him with 47 runs.

Shreyan Chakraborty in a talk with SportzPoint on their road to the Final story

"We are so happy for reaching the final. The players have given their best and they are focused on the Final as well. Every team that reaches the Final want to win it of course. No one remembers the losing side in the Final," Shreyan Chakraborty told Sportz Point in an exclusive interview.

When we asked about their mindset and motivation before the Final, he said, "We are gonna take it just like another match, because if we think the match like a Final, it will create pressure. After the struggle we went through, we want to win the match and the Final. I think we have built the team just like a Champion Team does. It is very much needed to form a team like this because of the competition. Every team is very competitive and to reach the Final, you have to beat them, and we did that. So, we are going to play the Final just like another game. We will do our job and then we'll see what happens next."

Shreyan Chakraborty has provided the team with some crucial wickets throughout the competition. And the main thing is his economy. He doesn't leak runs foolishly and that is what makes him more dangerous.

"Every bowler wants to pick 5-6 wickets, I also want that but the most important thing for me is to contribute to my team with wickets in important situations. I always want to help my team in the big stages like the Quarter-Final, Semi-Final, and the Final of course. I'll try my best to provide as much as I can and bring the trophy to the club," he added.

A very congratulations to Shreyan Chakraborty and Town Club from the SportzPoint team for reaching the Final and all the best for the match.

Kalighat Club will face Town Club in the Final of the CAB 1st Division Play-Off Championship after both teams registered comfortable victories in their respective semifinal matches on Saturday. In the first semifinal, Kalighat Club outclassed Barisha Sporting Club by 231 runs. Kalighat skipper Subham Chatterjee played a blistering knock of 174 runs along with Writam Porel (92) as they posted 386. Ankit Mishra and Anurag Tiwari bagged four wickets each for Barisha Sporting. During the chase, Barisha Sporting Club were bundled out for only 155 after Vikas Singh's (6-45) fiery spell.

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This is not the first time the Kalighat Captain has shown his potential on the big stage. Subham, known as Raja Chatterjee has been playing at his peak for a long time. He scored a double-century against Police A.C. in the quarter-final in June last year. The 215-run partnership between the skipper and Writam Porel completely changed the course of the match. However, Porel missed out on his century by just 8 runs and lost his wicket but the Captain went on and played a knock of 174 runs which helped Kalighat reach a total of 386 runs. In reply, Barisha were only able to score 155 runs after a breezy spell from Vikas Singh.

Subham Chatterjee in a talk with SportzPoint on their road to the Final story

"We are so happy for reaching the final. It was not an easy path and the players gave their best for the team." Subham Chatterjee told Sportz Point in an exclusive interview.

When we asked about his motivation for the brilliant performances on the biggest stages, he said, "As a Cricketer, as a Professional, I always try to give my best on the field. I train hard and try to improve my game day by day."

"Writam Da always helps and motivates me whenever I need it. That's why we complement each other so well. He helped me to build the inning against Barisha Sporting. Not only him but the others too. The Seniors have always supported me on and off the field. Manabendra Ghosh, my coach has been always there and helped me in my batting. Sanjiv Sanyal (Kaka) is guiding me for the last 2 years. The seniors and the team members have always inspired and motivated me throughout my career. I am passionate and always ready for new challenges. We will try our best to bring it home."

Subham Chatterjee has played 163 matches to date. He has 5589 runs with a brilliant average of 52.23. His highest score of 206* came against Police A.C. last year. Subham also has smashed 9 centuries and 36 half-centuries.

"I am scoring on a regular basis for the last 3-4 years. As I said, I train hard and am always ready for challenges. Hope I'll continue my form for a long time and will get the opportunity to play Ranji Trophy. Like every professional cricketer, I also carry the same dream."

A very congratulations from the SportzPoint team for reaching the Final and all the best for the match.