Lakshmi Ratan Shukla, the all rounder from Bengal has been suspended till February 9, 2001. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the disciplinary committee of the Cricket Association of Bengal in Kolkata on Friday.

It may be recalled that on the third day of the Ranji Trophy match against Bihar at the Eden Gardens last week, Shukla had insulted stand-in captain Srikkant Kalyani. As a result, the team management did not allow him to take any further part in the match. Since then however, Shukla had sent in a written apology to the manager, coach and Kalyani.

The disciplinary committee viewed the entire issue. The members then let him off with a light punishment because he had apologised. In effect, Shukla will miss the club matches in Calcutta and only one first class match. That will be Bengal's Wills Trophy game at Pune on February 8. He will be available for Bengal's Ranji Trophy quarter final match against Baroda on March 9.

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