'Question mark is always there on the management' - Manoj Tiwary lambasts KKR franchise for not promoting local talent

Kolkata Knight Riders endured another underwhelming season in IPL 2022 as the two-time champions finished in the bottom half of the table. Last year’s runner-ups are the subject of criticism for Bengal’s Minister of State for Affairs of Sports and Youth, Manoj Tiwary, for not promoting Bengal players.

The Kolkata-based franchise has been the league’s third most successful team and lifted its maiden trophy in 2012. Manoj Tiwary was an integral part of the title-winning side that year. But the former KKR man has raised questions about the team’s management methods after a lack of players from the Bengal region.

Apart from Tiwary, former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, Mohammed Shami, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, and Wriddhiman Saha are some of the most prominent players from West Bengal to have represented the franchise. But in recent years the players from the region have been scarce on the team.

“Certainly I would like to see a change. I always say that there should be a lot of players (from Bengal in KKR). So my only question is that if Bengal players can play for those other teams regularly in the playing eleven, why can’t they play here. So that question mark is always there on the management. They never talk openly also. They stay silent, and this question mark always remains on them,” Manoj Tiwary said on Sports Tak

Fans would want to support their local players: Manoj Tiwary

One of the stalwarts of the Ranji side, Tiwary said that having local players on the team inspires the youth to take up the sport and also brings more passionate supporters to the game as people want to see the players from their region at bigger stages like the IPL. The former Indian cricketer also said that he will have a conversation with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and KKR‘s Shahrukh Khan regarding the issue.

“Local players inspire kids in the stadium. Fans would want to support their local players. They will always support their team but when they see that there is a local player in the squad, they will take that emotion with them. I will ask our honorable chief minister Mamata Banerjee to speak with Shahrukh Khan. He is West Bengal’s brand ambassador. We’ll see what happens after that,” Tiwary added.