Bengal all-rounder Laxmi Ratan Shukla retires from all forms of cricket

Kolkata Two days after he was named in theBengal squad former captain and veteran allrounder LaxmiRatan Shukla on Wednesday announced his retirement from all forms ofcricketFor last one month I was not getting the rightmotivation Not feeling myself the link was missing themostcapped Bengal player said in a news conference with hissixyearold son Agastya this afternoon at his club MohunBaganMentally I was not ready to play again I startedhaving this feeling for about a month and was not able tosleep properly Now I can sleep peacefully the 34yearoldplayer added in his emotional speech with his son hugging himFormer Bengal captain and veteran allrounder LaxmiRatan ShuklaShukla however said he would be available for his clubif Bagan feel his service is neededShukla said he had decided two days ago as he alsocirculated a copy of his letter to Cricket Association ofBengal president Sourav Ganguly dated yesterdayThe ace allrounder who had played three ODIs for Indiascoring 18 runs and picking up a wicket was named Sunday inBengals 16member squad for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq AliTrophyThe announcement came on the eve of Bengals departurefor their group A league matches of the Syed Mushtaq Alidomestic Twenty20 tournamentIt is learnt that Shukla took the drastic decision as afallout of his meeting with Ganguly who was unhappy withBengals group stage elimination from the Vijay Hazare Trophyoneday tournamentBengal skipper Manoj Tiwary was also present in themeetingShukla who played 137 firstclass matches and scored6217 at an average of 3693 including nine centuries and 37fifties however denied that he was forced to call it quitsand termed it a personal decisionTerming Ganguly as his best captain Shukla said Hesbeen a source of inspiration not only to me but for cricketersall over the world He wanted me to continue but I told him Iwas not feeling wellIm committed to my state Bengal from where I goteverything State is a big pride for all of us To play forBengal is the biggest moment of my career Its obviouslypainful but I think its the right time for me to goAsked why he chose his club tent and not his company ofBengal teammates in Eden Gardens to call it a day Shuklasaid I started cricket alone and I want to leave alone Idont want to involve anyone Ive no regretsA recipient of the Lala Amarnath Award for the bestallrounder in domestic limitedovers format for the 201112season Shukla in the 201314 season had become the firstplayer from Bengal to appear in his 100th Ranji Trophy matchwhen he led against Services in New Delhi in November 2013A handy mediumpacer who is cleverly used as apartnershipbreaker Shukla also took 172 wickets at anaverage of 3475 including five threewicket hauls with hisbest being 686Shukla who last represented Bengal against Saurashtra inthe domestic onedayers on December 18 also played 141 List Amatches scoring 2997 runs at 3027 and claiming 143 wickets at2762He was part of Kolkata Knight Riders inaugural IndianPremier Triumph in the 2012 season as he also representedDelhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the cash richfranchise tournamentFrom 81 Twenty20s Shukla had a healthy batting strikerate of 12063 scoring 994 runs and taking 47 wickets at anaverage of 2461