Spinner Rajkumar Pal and pacer Geet Puri, both drafted into the squad for Bengal’s remaining Ranji Trophy matches versus Rajasthan and Punjab, will be returning home. Reason: They were not registered ahead of the competition according to the new BCCI norms.

It was learnt that the Board had communicated the matter to the CAB, which, it appears, had goofed up during the selection meeting at the end of the Delhi game on Thursday.

The CAB officials then held a meeting on Saturday and it was decided to call back Pal and Puri, and instead, send Ramesh Prasad and Golam Mustafa in their places.

An official release regarding the matter does suggest the association wasn’t aware of the new norms. “… They (Prasad and Mustafa) will replace Rajkumar Pal and Geet Puri who will return to base as new players will not be allowed to register according to new BCCI norms,” the release said. Sources said that the seasoned B Amit was preferred to join the squad, but he couldn’t be contacted.