Amidst huge speculation and strong reactions, Sourav Ganguly has been chosen in the 15-member squad for the first two test matches to be played against Australia. The selection comes as a breezer for Ganguly who had been almost written off by the critics after his exclusion from the Rest of India Irani trophy team. Also included in the team are Munaf Patel who performed well to pocket this chance and Amit Mishra whose selection is now a debate (since the team doesn’t need another spinner)

There was a strong hint that Ganguly would be left out of the test squad against Australia, a move which will spell the final doom for his test career. However, the new selection panel headed by Krishnamachari Srikkanth has come as a respite to the elegant southpaw and given him the chance to stage a graceful exit from international cricket.

This selection has evoked mixed reactions from experts. While former chief selector Syed Kirmani feels that Ganguly deserved this chance to bid adieu to the game on a high note, former coach Madan Lal opines that a team should be selected to win matches and not to stage farewells. In the opinion of member of 1983 ICC World Cup winning squad member Kirti Azad, this is a dicey situation. According to him, either Ganguly should not have been dropped from the Irani Trophy or the same standards of selection should have been used for this series as well.

Former pacer Atul Wassan feels that there is no harm if Ganguly is included in team as a part of his exit plan while former selector Kiran More who has always been keen to see Ganguly out of the team thinks that the selection committee has no long-term plans. Chief selector Chandu Borde expresses that Ganguly was going to be included in the team anyway and he was kept out of Irani trophy to make space for youngsters.

It is rumored that Ganguly might be asked to resign after the two test matches coming up. The signal sent out by BCCI is clear. The Fab Four: Ganguly, Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman have to be phased out of the team within the next two years simultaneously building up fresh pool of talent. Ganguly should thank the new selection committee because of which he has been awarded a fresh lease of life.

 

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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