Sayan rejoins Bengal squad after dad’s demise

Sayan Ghosh had travelled to Mumbai with the Bengal squad on Wednesday, looking ahead to another important assignment in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

But the tournament quickly took a back seat when news arrived in the early hours of Thursday that his father, who had been battling lung cancer for some time, had passed away.

The pacer rushed back to Kolkata to be with his family and attend the last rites. It was a difficult moment for Sayan, and there was little thought of cricket in those hours. But on Friday evening, Sayan was back in Mumbai, rejoining the Bengal squad. He arrived at the Wankhede Stadium for a training session ahead of the marquee clash against Karnataka.

The grief was still fresh, but Sayan wanted to be with the team. Confirming his return, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) treasurer Sanjay Das told The Hindu: “He has joined the team. He wanted to be with his teammates, and we will constantly back him.”

Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla, meanwhile, praised Sayan’s spirit and determination.

“He was determined to come back. His father had been suffering for a long time, and he always wanted Sayan to play cricket. So, Sayan wanted to return and be with the team as a tribute to his father, while also finding comfort in being around his teammates,” Shukla said.

The CAB and the team management have assured Sayan of their continued support as he navigates this difficult phase.