Manoj Tiwary, the Bengal captain and current Sports Minister of West Bengal, has dropped two bombshells: his retirement from the Ranji Trophy after the upcoming match against Bihar and scathing criticism of tournament facilities.
In a Facebook live session, Tiwary announced his final first-class game at the Eden Gardens, where his journey began. While his wife and the Bengal Cricket Association played a role in coaxing him out of an earlier retirement decision, his retirement announcement was overshadowed by strong criticism of the Ranji Trophy’s infrastructure.
“Ranji trophy should be scrapped off from the calendar from the next season onwards. So many things going wrong in the tournament. So many things need to looked into in order to save this prestigious tournament which has a rich history. It’s losing its charm and importance. Absolutely frustrated,” Manoj Tiwary tweeted.
Manoj Tiwary highlighted the subpar facilities at the ongoing match against Kerala, played at a college ground instead of a dedicated stadium. He expressed frustration with cramped dressing rooms lacking privacy, stating, “We are playing in a ground, not a stadium… you can hear what the others are saying. There is no privacy.”
While bound by the BCCI code of conduct as a player and captain, Manoj Tiwary hinted at deeper issues, promising to reveal the reasons behind his criticism after his retirement. This has sparked debate within the cricketing community, with many curious about the extent of the problems plaguing the Ranji Trophy.
Tiwary’s public criticism, coming from a player of his stature, has brought much-needed attention to the concerns surrounding the infrastructure and organization of the prestigious tournament.
