Pragyan Ojha and Lalchand Rajput set to join Bengal

Pragyan Ojha wants to start afresh. (Source: File)

Bengal has offered left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and coach Lalchand Rajput to join their ranks for the next Ranji season, The Indian Express has learnt.

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) officials are tight-lipped on the issue, but according to a Hyderabad Cricket Association source Ojha has already applied for the NOC from his home association. The left-arm spinner didn’t have a good first-class outing last term after being barred from bowling for an illegal action. When he returned following action correction, Ojha didn’t look threatening. In four Ranji Trophy matches last season, Ojha had eight wickets at an average of 57.50. He played only one game for the Mumbai Indians in this year’s IPL before being replaced by Jagadeesha Suchith. The 28-year-old had earlier lost his place in the Indian team, after the Test match against the West Indies in Mumbai in November 2013. He has been picked for India ‘A’ for the home tri-series involving Australia ‘A’ and South Africa ‘A’, starting July 19.

According to the source, Ojha wants to start afresh. Also, he’s keen to play at a higher level in the domestic first-class matches. Hyderabad feature in Group C in the Ranji Trophy; the erstwhile ‘plate group’.

As for Rajput, CAB wants to have a new coach after Bengal’s poor performance last season. They narrowly avoided relegation. Coach Ashok Malhotra never looked quite in control of the dressing room. Rajput has enough experience to get things in order. He coached India in a stop-gap arrangement after Greg Chappell’s departure in 2007. The former Mumbai and India opener was also in charge of the India ‘A’ team and guided his home state for one season in the Ranji Trophy.

The close season is turning out to be a period for shifting bases. Mumbai legend Wasim Jaffer has decided to join Vidarbha. Virender Sehwag, too, is reportedly contemplating on making a move to Haryana.