KOLKATA: In a rare case of a state-level minister pursuing his own profession, Manoj Tiwary joined senior Bengal’s pre-season training camp at the JU second campus ground on Friday.
Life has changed a lot for Tiwary over the last seven months after he ventured into politics. He is now West Bengal’s Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports after winning the Shibpur constituency seat on a Trinamool Congress ticket in May.
When most of the Bengal cricketers were forced to stay indoors during the pandemic, Tiwary spent his time on the road working for the people in his constituency.
But once his first love cricket came calling, he was prompt to reply. “When Didi (West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee) asked me to join politics, I could not say no. When I told her that I wanted to play and did not want to end my career abruptly, she said, ‘You can play as long as you can,’ ’’ Tiwary said. “I want to play in all the three formats of the game this season,” he stated.
The squad began training for about two hours on the opening day. Tiwary did indoor training, while the rest of the boys went through other practice drills.
All members in the probables’ list attended the camp except Wriddhiman Saha, Mohammad Shami, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Ishan Porel who all are on national duties.
Golam Mustafa and Sujit Kumar Yadav missed out being indisposed.
Coach Arun Lal is happy to make a fresh start. “It’s heartening to see the efforts the boys put in on the first day. Of course it will take time before they reach their peak. But what I have seen is the intensity and desire which is very encouraging. That’s what we want,” he said.
Tiwary is confident of getting back to peak fitness before the start of the season. “It will not be easy to maintain a balance between cricket and politics. But that doesn’t mean I will compromise on my fitness. If required I will put in the extra yard,” he stated.
The former Bengal skipper still has unfinished work on the field. “I want to win the Ranji Trophy for Bengal,” he stated.
