With the Indian top order not doing particularly well, there is a move within the BCCI officialdom to revive his claims for a place in the national team.
MUMBAI: The Sourav Ganguly saga may have a few more twists and turns yet. Suddenly, the return of the former Indian captain to the cricket team may not be as remote as it seemed even a couple of weeks ago.
With the Indian top order not doing particularly well, there is a move within the BCCI officialdom to revive Ganguly’s claims for a place in the national team. Ganguly had a long meeting a couple of days back in Delhi with Arun Jaitley, president of the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association and a political heavyweight. Jaitley, currently in Kolkata, is likely to meet the left-handed batsman again.
Though he declined to comment on the issue, it was widely known in cricket circles that Jaitley favours Ganguly’s return. Sharad Pawar, BCCI president, had also said recently (in Nagpur) that he was confident that Ganguly would make a comeback. Current skipper Rahul Dravid has gone on record in a recent television interview to say that the door is not shut on his predecessor.
Despite chairman of selectors Kiran More’s claim to the contrary, the selection committee is believed to have been divided on dropping Ganguly for the series against England. Though coach Greg Chappell and More — whose business connections were the stuff of much debate — had their way, Ganguly has featured in all selection meetings.
Given the current predicament of the management with the injury to Sachin Tendulkar and the poor form of some key batsmen, Ganguly is likely to feature more extensively. The team for the last four ODIs and the two offshore matches against Pakistan will be chosen in Goa after the third ODI on Monday. India then tours the West Indies in late May.
With JD Chauhan in Baroda and Neeta Kolhatkar in Mumbai
Chappell rubbishes nexus report
Reports claimed that you and Ian Frazer are partners in the Australian International Sports Academy, where Kiran More has been sending trainees from his Baroda Academy.
I am not a partner in AISA. Yes, they are using my training methods, but I do not do the coaching there. It is just some people who are trying to make a story out of nothing. If they are talking about More sending people to the academy, then go ask him about it.
Does the failure of the top order worry you?
We have just won two matches on the trot. We won in Pakistan too. I am happy with the way the top order has performed.
— Ashish Magotra
Nothing to hide: More
Do you have business links with Chappell?
My business is transparent. I have nothing to hide.
Do you send students to his academy?
It is a routine thing.
Does Chappell impart coaching in your academy?
He has been a visiting coach. Our relations date back to the time when he was not India’s coach.
BCCI President Sharad Pawar, when contacted refused to react to “baseless reports”
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