Tiwary to continue playing for Bengal

Bengal top-order batsman Manoj Tiwary has confirmed that he will not switch states for the 2008-09 domestic season. Tiwary, who has played for Bengal since his Ranji Trophy debut in 2004-05, was believed to be heading for Rajasthan after his side was relegated to the Plate League following last season's poor performance.

Tiwary met the newly-elected Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Jagmohan Dalmiya at the CAB club house on Sunday to convey his decision. He said although Rajasthan gave him a very good offer, his "conscience" did not allow him to leave the team reeling in such a sorry state.

"I learnt to play cricket here and was picked for the national team while playing for Bengal. I feel I have some moral responsibility towards the state," Tiwary told PTI. "Being a member of the Bengal team, which performed poorly last year, I feel I should try my best to guide the team back to the Super League".

He said his chances of being selected for the Indian team would not diminish because of the decision to play in the Plate League. "I don't think so. If players like Mahendra Singh Dhoni or S Sreesanth could come up then why won't I be able to do the same? My aim is to perform consistently," he said.

Tiwary played for the Delhi Daredevils in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League and helped his team reach the semi-finals. At 21, he led Bengal to a Cooch Behar Trophy triumph and was asked to captain Bengal in the Twenty20 championships, despite the presence of Deep Dasgupta and Sourav Ganguly. He was drafted into the one-day squad for India's tour to Bangladesh in 2007 and made his debut in Australia in February 2008.