From correspondents in West Bengal, India, 10:01 PM IST

Former left-arm spinner Utpal Chatterjee was Thursday appointed coach of the Bengal cricket team for the coming season.

Chatterjee, the most successful Bengal bowler with 504 first class victims, would take charge Friday, Cricket Association of Bengal president Jagmohan Dalmiya announced here.

'It's a new challenge. It's a big challenge. We have to plan out things well,' Chatterjee said after his appointment.

Bengal were relegated to the plate division of the Ranji Trophy last season.

Former Indian Test player Mohinder Amarnath has already been appointed consultant of the state team.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)