Laxmi Ratan Shukla was appointed head coach of the senior Bengal cricket team for the 2022-23 season, succeeding Arun Lal. | Photo Credit: P_K_AJITH_KUMAR

The Cricket Association of Bengal has begun the process of finding a successor to Laxmi Ratan Shukla, who has been coaching the state senior team since 2022, by issuing a public advertisement for coaching and support staff roles for the first time in its history.

The advertisement, released on Friday through CAB’s official Facebook page with the message “We are hiring... join our team,” signals a shift towards a more structured and transparent system.

While the move is effectively aimed at identifying the next head coach of the senior side, the advertisement also invites applications for a broader set of roles, including the women’s and age-group teams (under-16, under-19 and under-23).

The CAB step takes a cue from the BCCI’s coaching staff appointment process, which involves issuing advertisements, reviewing applications and conducting interviews before finalising candidates.

Applicants for the senior team coaching role will have to meet specific eligibility criteria laid down by the CAB.

They must have played at least 30 first-class matches or one Test or 30 ODIs or 45 T20 Internationals, along with recognised coaching qualifications such as BCCI Level 2 or Level 3 certifications.

In case they do not meet the prescribed playing criteria, candidates must have a minimum of three to five years of coaching experience with senior or age-group teams.

The upper age limit for applicants has been set at 60 years. The deadline for submission of applications has been set for May 1 at 5 pm, after which the selection process will move to screening and interviews.

The notice, issued by CAB secretary Bablu Koley, also outlines key responsibilities, including “developing, managing and delivering high-performance Bengal teams across age groups, building competitive and consistent sides across formats, focusing on long-term player development rather than just results, preparing players for progression from state to zonal and national levels, and ensuring smooth transition across age groups”.

The same process is expected to be followed for age-group teams as well.

Wriddhiman Saha, who has been associated with the under-23 side, was earlier seen as a potential candidate for the senior role, but CAB has made it clear that no names are being considered in advance and all appointments will be made strictly through the aforementioned process.

As per CAB’s constitution, a selection committee will interview applicants and recommend names, after which the final decision will be taken.

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CAB president Sourav Ganguly is expected to have a significant say in the final appointment, with the board aiming to attract candidates from across the country and ensure a transparent, merit-based selection process.

The social media post that called for applications from coaches, physiotherapists, strength and conditioning (S&C) coaches, and performance analysts has not specified the teams.

“Join the team shaping the future of cricket with the Cricket Association of Bengal. We are looking for passionate coaches, physiotherapists, S&C coaches, and performance analysts for the senior Bengal and age-group teams,” the post stated.

Shukla, a former India all-rounder, took over from Arun Lal in 2022 after the latter guided Bengal to the Ranji Trophy final in the 2019–20 season, where it lost to Saurashtra in Rajkot.

Under Shukla, Bengal remained a consistent performer in red-ball cricket, reaching the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy semifinals, and it also finished runner-up in the 2022–23 season.

However, despite consistent performances, Bengal has struggled in crucial knockout matches and has not lifted the Ranji Trophy since the 1989–90 season.

The contracts of Shukla and his support staff — Shivshankar Pal, Arup Bhattacharya and Charanjit Singh — have now expired.

CAB sources maintained that the board is not dissatisfied with Shukla’s performance but is looking to bring in a “more structured system to improve results in crucial matches”.

Published on Apr 24, 2026