By IANS
Kolkata : Bengal all rounder Laxmi Ratan Shukla Friday decided against joining the newly-formed rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) and returned to the state fold, saying he had listened to his “heart”.
Shukla told IANS Friday: “I was not enjoying ICL. I want to play for my state and country. So I have finally decided to stay back with the Bengal Ranji team.”
Asked if the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) had made any special offer to him, Shukla said: “I am not a businessman. I am a cricketer. It is just that I have listened to my heart.”
On whether he would inspire the other cricketers who had joined the ICL bandwagon to return to their respective state associations, he said: “I have not done this to set an example. It is their individual choice. I have listened to my heart only.”
On Thursday, Shukla was undecided about joining ICL. He had told IANS: “As far as my joining ICL is concerned, you have to wait till tomorrow (Friday).”
On Wednesday, he was closeted with Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) joint secretary Samar Pal and a number of officials, who were convinced that Shukla would continue to play for Bengal.
“We had a talk and he will stay with Bengal. I am confident and he has assured us. I also had a chat with Rohan Gavaskar. He will also stay with Bengal and more importantly Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI),” a confident Pal had said.
Shukla, who has played three one-day internationals (ODI) for India, has an awesome domestic record as Bengal’s match-winning all-rounder in his 80 first class appearances for the state.
Bengal cricket was hit hard on Monday after Subhash Chandra’s ICL signed several of its players.
Skipper Deep Dasgupta along with a host of other star performers for the current Ranji Trophy runners-up signed on the dotted line for the multi-million dollar Essel group venture. The other players are Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, Shibsagar Singh, Subhomoy Das, Eklak Ahmed and Subhajit Paul while Shukla was indecisive.
Jhunjhunwala, who was in the probable list in the Twenty20 World Cup, was the biggest surprise among the renegades.
The dashing right-hander said, “The offer from ICL is too good to resist. And apart from the money the League is also providing us an opportunity to rub shoulders with the best players in the world.”