Kolkata: Former Bengal skipper and West Bengal’s Minister Laxmi Ratan Shukla today signed for, CAB’s Second Division team Salkia Friends. Along with Shukla, joining the Salkia team would be Bengal bowler Sourav Sarkar. A bunch of fresh new faces in the team will surely make it a team to watch it out.
“The reserve bench of Bengal comprises of the players from the Second Division. A lot of young players from U15 and U16 play club cricket in the Second Division. And now I too will be playing here, so a lot of focus will be on this league as player would selected for the reserve bench” said Laxmi Ratan Shukla.
On being questioned about whether he would be able to feature in all the games owing to his busy schedule, Shukla said, “The Chief Minister has often advised me not to leave the game and I want to continue playing the game as it is my life. So I want to play all the games for Salkia Friends.”
After spending 7 seasons in Mohun Bagan, the minister has decided to move to his new club. “Salkia Friends is my neighbourhood club and it was always my dream to play here. In previous years Salkia used to play in the Frist Division League and now the aim is play with the same motivation in which I played for Bengal”.
“Owing to a busy schedule, I wouldn’t have been able to play for Mohun Bagan. So I spoke to Srinjoy Bose regarding the matter and decided to shift to my new clubs. Both Mohun Bagan and Salkia are very dear to me” Shukla concluded.