West Bengal’s Minister Manoj Tiwary among 39-member Bengal probables

Manoj Tiwari, West Bengal’s Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs, was included among Bengal’s likely 39-man candidates for the upcoming cricket season. Tiwari has confirmed his availability for the Bengal Cricket Association (CAB) for all three formats – the Ranji Trophy, the Vijay Hazare Trophy (50 overs) and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20). The fitness camp will start on July 23.

“As far as playing is concerned, I have passion, I enjoy the game and I have a lot to contribute to Bengal cricket. This is the reason why I’m continuing to play cricket. Whatever I’m today is because of my cricket,” Tiwary told The Indian Express.

Contesting for Trinamool Congress (TMC), Tiwary, 35, won from the Shibpur constituency in Howrah in the last Bengal Assembly elections.

The former Bengal captain, who has 12 ODIs, three T20Is and 125 first-class matches under his belt, claimed he has Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s blessings. “I never thought about quitting cricket and I discussed it with our Chief Minister. She told me, ‘No problem, khel na (keep playing)’. This is my profession and passion, which is the reason I didn’t announce my retirement,” he told this paper.

After the Covid-forced cancellation last term, the Ranji Trophy will be back this season, while the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy are on the roster as well. Putting cricket alongside politics might cramp Tiwary for time. But he has his backup plans ready. “I have built a core team that will do the job in my absence at my constituency. That team is ready and I can trust them. I will be available on phone and will monitor everything, and I’m very confident that I will be able to shoulder the dual responsibility,” said the senior batsman.

A sitting minister walking into the dressing-room might give the whole atmosphere a different feel. Tiwary allayed the concern. “When I step into the dressing-room I will make sure that I’m meeting with them (colleagues) as a senior player, as a brother and a team mate.”

The current Union Minister of Sports, Youth Affairs and Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur played first-class cricket before coming into active politics. Kirti Azad, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Tejashwi Yadav, too, hung up their cricket boots before joining politics.