Saha has declined to play for Bengal in Ranji knockouts: CAB president Avishek Dalmiya

Avishek Dalmiya, President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), has revealed that Wriddhiman Saha has communicated to the board that he is unwilling to play in the knockouts of the Ranji Trophy. Bengal are in the quarter-finals of the ongoing edition of the Ranji Trophy, and will be taking on Jharkhand in Bengaluru on June 6th, but Dalmiya has confirmed that the veteran wicket-keeper will not be representing the state side come the knockouts.

"The Cricket Association of Bengal wanted Wriddhiman Saha to play for Bengal at this crucial juncture especially when Bengal would be fighting in the Knockout stage in a bid to win the Ranji Trophy after becoming the top ranked team in the country at the end of the Group Stage. I had expressed this to Wriddhiman and had requested him to reconsider his decision. However, Wriddhiman has now communicated to us that he is not willing to play the Ranji knockouts," CAB president Avishek Dalmiya said, reported Cricbuzz.

Saha had opted out of the group stages of the Ranji Trophy owing to personal reasons, but, earlier this month, was named in the squad for the knockouts. But then rumors emerged that the 37-year-old was unhappy having been named in the squad without consultation, and was hence looking to leave the state. There were reports that suggested that Saha had asked Dalmiya to release him from Bengal.

Last week, however, the CAB President refused to comment on those rumored developments.

 "Any discussion that happens between a player and an organisation is strictly between that player and the organisation. I would like to completely refrain from making any comments at this stage," Dalmiya had said.

Saha is currently representing the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022, and will be featuring in the grand finale of the competition on Sunday, May 29. Bengal, meanwhile, will be continued to be led by opening batter Abhimanyu Easwaran in the knockouts.