If PM Modi Can Run The Country In Tough Times, Why Should I Step Back: Arun Lal On BCCI SOP

BCCI released a SOP for senior staffs, keeping their health in concern, as cricket training nears its return. According to the SOP released by the cricket board, for state associations where people aged 60, especially those with medical history and low immunity shouldn’t attend the training camps till further government directive.

But Bengal coach Arun Lal, who beat cancer, does not seems happy about the move. He cited the example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that if he can run the country in these tough times then why should he step back.

“The Prime Minister is 69 and he’s running the country in these times. Are they telling him to step down?” the Bengal coach counter-questioned during an exclusive interview to PTI.

Moreover, according to the SOP released by the cricket board, Arun Lal should not be allowed to attend the pre-season Bengal camp. But he is in high spirits and the lively Lal said that he cannot keep himself locked inside the room due to the situation. He also pointed out that whether he will coach Bengal or not is immaterial but he wants to live his life.

“Me as a person, whether I coach Bengal or not is immaterial but I will live my life. Don’t expect me that I’m 65 years old, so I will lock myself in a room for the next 30 years. This does not happen like this,” Lal said.

Under the mentoring of Lal, Bengal came agonisingly close to grab the Ranji trophy in the previous season but lost in the final to Saurashtra. He also said that, he will take his necessary precautions but cannot stay quarantined just like that. “I will take precautions like everybody else – social distancing, hand washing, sanitising, mask-wearing all that I will do. Unnecessarily there will be no foolhardiness. But I will not quarantine myself just because I’m 60-plus. Virus does not know the difference between 59 and 60,” he said.

Lal played 156 first-class matches where he scored 10421 runs at an average of 46.94. He also hit 30 centuries and 43 half-centuries in the format.