[caption id="attachment_3589" align="alignnone" width="580"]Bengal cricket team  to play practice tournaments ahead of Ranji Trophy. Image Source: File Pic Bengal cricket team to play practice tournaments ahead of Ranji Trophy. Image Source: File Pic[/caption] Kolkata: CAB has already started planning for Bengal's Ranji Trophy campaign this season. Regarding this issue, CAB Secretary, Avishek Dalmiya already had a round of discussions with BCCI President, Anurag Thakur, who is also the President of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association. As it is already decided by BCCI Technical Committee that Ranji Trophy will be played in a neutral venue this season, so CAB is mulling to play few matches in Dharamshala against Himachal Pradesh which will consist two four-day matches as well as few T20 matches and One-day matches. Manoj Tiwary and Co. will also visit Sri Lanka to play few practice matches and will also participate in an invitational tournament from K.S.C.A (Karnataka State Cricket Association) in Bengaluru as well as CAB is having talks with Mumbai Cricket Association to play few practice matches. Avishek Dalmiya quoted as saying, "We want to bring professionalism in Bengal cricket from all angles. That is the reason we are taking these initiatives. We want to go to any level to take Bengal cricket at the top most level." Now the question arises, why the BCCI Technical Committee has taken the decision of playing in neutral venues. According to sources, in the last season, Saurashtra and Bengal misused the home advantage to qualify for the knock-outs by making spinning tracks which turned out to be low-scoring matches and dismal for the batsmen. Meanwhile, CAB is planning for the above mentioned tournaments not only for the senior side but for the U-19 and U-23 teams simaltaneously. On the other hand, Indian batting great VVS Laxman, who is batting consultant in Cricket Association of Bengal's (CAB) ambitious 'Vision 2020' programme believes that they would be a transformed side in the upcoming season and would be successful in winning their first Ranji Trophy title since 1990. "It is just about realising their true potential. We are working on the technical aspect. I am sure that they will have a successful season,"Laxman said on his last day at the 'Vision 2020' camp in Jadavpur University (second campus) ground in Salt Lake. "The basic advice for them is to understand their strengths. Everyone has got a unique talent and they have their own of playing style. Good thing is there's no shortage of match practice. The introduction of three-day Super League is also good. The more matches they play, the better understanding they would have of the game."

CAB in discussion with Anurag Thakur to play practice matches in Himachal Pradesh