KOLKATA: BCCI President Sourav Ganguly highlighted the issues of skill development and fitness when he attended a review meeting on Thursday after Bengal failed to knock out Syed Mushtaq Ali (T20) and Vijay Hazare Trophy (over 50) this season had passed.
The former Indian skipper believed that the players need to show courage on the field as the coaches can only lead but it is the players who have to do things in the middle. The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has also decided to set up a special fitness program for the players. Every Bengali player has to go through three levels of fitness to find a place on the team. It sets a benchmark and standard that all players must maintain from the beginning to the end of the season.
However, the association kept the core team management, but reduced its support staff and announced that from now on only one trainer and his assistant will travel with the team.
The other support staff like Ranadeb Bose and Utpal Chatterjee, speed and spin bowling trainers, will work with the Vision 2020 boys. The Vision Trainers will not work directly with the Bengali boys during the season.
An assistant coach will be named shortly. A detailed Vision 2025 program with an emphasis on individual skills will also soon be rolled out, creating a healthy line of care for players and organizing clinics and camps for players.
Interestingly, the entire cricket operations unit is now operated separately.
