Bengal cricket squad announced for Ranji Trophy opener against Delhi

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has announced its 17-member squad for the opening Ranji Trophy fixture against Delhi. The match will be held at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani, following a venue change from Eden Gardens due to scheduled events in Kolkata.

Abhishek Porel has been included in the squad as a wicketkeeper-batter. His selection follows his recent release on bail in a case involving allegations of rape and other sexual offenses filed by a medical student from Karnataka. A CAB official stated that Porel’s legal matters are personal and do not constitute a barrier to selection unless a formal directive is issued.

The squad features several high-profile players, including captain Abhimanyu Easwaran and vice-captain Sudip Kumar Gharami. The bowling attack is bolstered by experienced international pacers Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, and Akash Deep. Other notable inclusions are veteran batter Sudip Chatterjee and Ankur Paul.