Bengal appoints WV Raman as chief coach

Bengal on Wednesday appointed W V Raman as their chief coach, inking a two-season contract with the former India left-hand opener.

"Raman will report for his coaching assignment from September 1. This will be his second stint with the Cricket Association of Bengal, the first being in 2001-02," CAB president Jagmohant Dalmiya said.

Raman, thus, ended his four-year association with his state Tamil Nadu and will replace Roger Binny under whom Bengal failed to make the semi-finals, finishing fifth in their group last season.

Under Raman, Bengal had a last-four finish in 2001-02 and now he boasts of a very impressive track record in Tamil Nadu, which a force to reckon with now.

Raman coached Tamil Nadu to the Ranji semi-finals and the state also won back-to-back titles in the national one-day tournament (Vijay Hazare Trophy) and emerged champions in the inaugural national Twenty20 tournament (Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy).

"This is the biggest satisfaction for me as we have come up from a difficult period. I joined them when they were going through a difficult period, but now they are a strong force," Raman said.

He said he was looking forward to the new challenge. "I have coached Bengal once... They (the CAB officials) know how I work and I am sure they would like to see their team as one of the best in the country," Raman said.

The former India southpaw, however, admitted that he has not followed Bengal cricket of late.

"I will talk to the selectors and take the team from there. A team should always have a good blend of youth and experience and I hope to take everything into consideration when I get down to work." Raman has played in 11 Tests and 27 ODIs for India.