Akhtar is still a ‘knight’ at heart

Dhaka: Shoaib Akhtar, who played three matches for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL’s inaugural year, 2008, is still “emotionally attached” to the franchise.

“I keep a track of KKR... I’ll always remember my association with it... I’m emotionally attached to KKR and to Calcutta and Eden Gardens,” Shoaib told The Telegraph.

Speaking at the Sheraton on Saturday, Shoaib said it was “painful” that not one franchise bought Sourav Ganguly during last month’s auction for 2011 and 2012.

Sourav, KKR’s first captain, had pressed for Shoaib in his line-up.

“If people try and humiliate Sourav, try and take away his contribution to Indian cricket, then it would mean playing around with history. Sourav must always be given his due,” is how Shoaib put it, pretty emotionally.

That bit should cheer up Sourav, India’s most successful Test captain.

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In lauding Dhoni, let’s not forget Ganguly’s role !

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is considered the best captain India ever had. And he truly deserves that rating, looking at his track record. He has the highest win percentage ever with 61.72%. He has always led the team from the front by being exemplary. He has continued the trend started by Sourav Ganguly of winning outside India and shows confidence in his young players. He has proved that Indian team is capable of winning without the big guns like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.

He handpicked young players and proved that quality international cricketers can be found outside the traditional stronghold like Mumbai and Delhi. It was under Ganguly that India found players but also from smaller centres like Ranchi, Meerut, Najafgarh etc.

Under his leadership, India has won the inaugural ICC T20 World Championship. He powered India to the No.1 rankings in both Test and ODI’s – unparalleled in the history of Indian cricket.

Statistically, Dhoni is the best Indian captain ever. But as they say, stats don’t tell you the full story. This is true when we compare Sourav Ganguly and Dhoni. The former has a winning percentage of 53.9, which is less than Dhoni.

If we look back when Ganguly took over the reins of the team, Indian cricket was in a big mess because of the match-fixing scandals. The great Tendulkar had stepped down and no one wanted to lead India. It is at this moment of crisis that Ganguly stepped in and took control of the reins.

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Ganguly tops the list of top 10 WC batting innings !!

Brief run-down of the top batting knocks in the World Cup (against test playing nations only) ahead of the 2011 edition which starts on Saturday:

1. Saurav Ganguly (India) - 183 (158 balls, 17 fours, 7 sixes) v Sri Lanka, Taunton, 1999

Ganguly provided a taste of what T20 might be like with his towering hits that almost cleared the outskirts of the town, let alone Taunton's tiny ground. After stuttering in their opening encounter against South Africa and choking in a space of six balls from Henry Olonga against Zimbabwe, India needed to win big against Sri Lanka. Ganguly's innings ensured just that and provided the momentum for a place in the Super Sixes. However, the early setbacks cost India the chance of further qualification.

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No 'favourites' for Sourav Ganguly in World Cup

KOLKATA: Just five days before the World Cup, former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has said he doesn't believe in "favourites"

"I am not a believer of the term 'favourites' in any sport. When we went to the 2003 World Cup, I don't think we were termed as 'favourites'. I think the only teams that have been termed as 'favourites', were the West Indies and Australia. Kapil Dev won the World Cup in 1983, when nobody expected the team to win," Ganguly said.

Ganguly also said the new format of the World Cup would benefit teams, even if they lose a couple of games.

"This World Cup format really gives a platform to all good teams to reach the quarterfinal stage, Ganguly said.

Ganguly is the fifth highest run scorer in one-day internationals (ODI) and the fifth batsman in cricket history to cross the 10,000 run mark.

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This team is similar to '03; settled, fearless: Ganguly

Kolkata: Former captain Sourav Ganguly sees a lot of similarity between India's 2003 and 2011 World Cup squad and said just like eight year ago, the present outfit is also fearless and has a strong batting line-up which makes them one of the title contenders.

Ganguly feels with such a combination at its disposal, India has the potential to make it count in cricket's showpiece event, starting February 19 in Dhaka.

"Like 2003, this time also we are in the right frame of mind, we have a settled side which has been doing well for sometime now. The team is equally good and strong and have the potential to go all the way," Ganguly told PTI in an interview here today.

"We have a very strong batting line-up with a lot of match-winners in the side. It's a very strong side," he said.

The former left-hander, who came tantalisingly close to leading India to the World Cup title eight years ago in 2003, however refused to make any predictions for the upcoming mega-event.

"Personally, I don't believe in terming any favourites.

It's a tournament where last three games -- quarterfinal onwards -- will make a difference. Australia, India and South Africa look very strong," said Ganguly, under whose leadership India made the finals in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, where they lost to Australia.

"I see Pakistan as darkhorse, Sri Lanka too can be very strong in these conditions. Also, I expect Bangladesh to put up some good shows. They are an improved side now. But I see all the top teams making the last eight stage. From there on it can be anybody's game on a given day," he added.

Recalling his memories of 2003, Ganguly said, "We had a very good and strong side and we played well throughout the tournament. We beat every team except for Australia (in the final). We played fearless cricket. All players were in form, the way the team got together was excellent."

Ganguly also said that he did not regret his decision to bowl first at Australia in the title clash in 2003, where they went on to lose the match by 125 runs after conceding a huge 359.

"I still maintain it was not a wrong decision to put Australia in to bat. It rained overnight, the condition was damp. If you remember, the match started late because of seepage under the covers. It (the ball) did seam a bit in the morning but they outplayed us completely. We bowled short on that pitch. It is always easier to look back and ponder over a decision," he said.

"I always felt 260-270 was gettable but it is always going to be difficult to chase 350-plus in a World Cup final.

It was disappointing not to win the Cup in 2003 as we had the side," Ganguly said.

Talking about the debacle in the 2007 Caribbean World Cup, where India failed to progress beyond the first round, Ganguly said the team's loss to Bangladesh in the group stages shook the morale of the side.

"2007 was a different story. We were never there. We did not start well and the team was dealt a huge blow after going down to Bangladesh. Thereafter the team lacked confidence and that became the turning point. The team was not settled with players going in and going out. There was an air of uncertainty," he viewed.

Ganguly further said that the Super Eight format made it more difficult for India in the 2007 World Cup.

"The format was such that only two team from the groups could make the cut. After losing to Bangladesh, we were on the backfoot and it was difficult to recover," he recalled.

"This time, the format is very good and allows every team a fair chance. Even if you had one bad day, there is time to recover."

Ganguly said India had improved immensely under Mahendra Singh Dhoni's captaincy.

"Mahendra Singh Dhoni has done very well as captain. He backs his teammates, supports them which helps in bringing the best of the side. Also, he has a very good side under him," he said.

"The batting is really strong with the likes of Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni. I hope things go well and it's important from India's point of view that players remain fit through out the long tournament," Ganguly added.

Asked how he viewed Tendulkar's approach towards the upcoming World Cup, which appears to be his swansong one, Ganguly said, "If it's his last World Cup, I hope he goes on a high. He has done well for the country for so many years and I hope he does well to make it a really memorable one."

Ganguly also said that the inclusion of S Sreesanth in place of an injured Praveen Kumar, who has been ruled out for the tournament, would bolster India's bowling attack.

"Sreesanth will definitely boost the bowling line-up.

It's a big setback to lose out on Praveen Kumar. The fast bowlers need to perform well because there will be a huge responsibility on them," he concluded.

Source: PTI

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Behave yourself: Ganguly tells Hayden

Kolkata: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Saturday hit back at Matthew Hayden for claiming that he had chickened out of 2004 Nagpur Test because of the green wicket there, saying his record on such pitches in Australia would tell a different story.

Hayden, who retired in 2009, had written in his autobiography 'Standing My Ground' that the sudden withdrawal of Ganguly and Harbhajan from the Test which the visitors eventually won to clinch a historic series win, was due to the fear of the green pitch on offer.

"I request him (Hayden) to behave like an international player," Ganguly said.

Drawing comparison of the Nagpur wicket with that of Gabba in Brisbane, Hayden had written that Ganguly's late withdrawal was due "greentrackitis, where you develop a severe intolerance to green wickets, likely to give plenty of headaches as a batsman".

Ganguly reminded Hayden that he had scored a hundred at Gabba besides playing important roles in India's wins later.

"He remembered Brisbane in Nagpur. Just want to remind him of my hundred in Brisbane in the first Test. Also since 2003, we have beaten them (Australia) everytime in Brisbane.

"Me and Bhajji have been important part of Indian team on all those wins," he said.

Ganguly, who was the Indian captain, pulled out of the Nagpur Test citing a leg-muscle injury. The home side was trailing 0-1 in the four-match Test series.

Australia won the Nagpur Test to win their first ever Test series after 35 years. India, however, won the last Test in Mumbai.

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IPL Dream is over for Sourav Now!

The IPL governing council has denied franchises permission to sign the three unsold Indian players from the auction after some of the teams objected to the proposal, putting an end to any chances former India captain, Sourav Ganguly, had of playing in IPL 4.

The governing council, also, in a questionable decision, allowed Manish Pandey to sign with the Pune Warriors, but banned him for four matches for breaching the IPL's rules concerning the signing of uncapped players.

It is understood that the Kochi franchise wanted to buy Ganguly, and had sought permission from the BCCI since IPL rules did not permit unsold players to be signed.

Subsequently, the BCCI sent a letter to the ten franchises asking if they would have any objections to the unsold players being made available again.

Mehul Shah, one of the co-owners at Kochi, had claimed the franchise had not approached the IPL to sign Ganguly, but one of the governing council members, speaking to ESPNcricinfo, said it had.

"Kochi were interested in him as a player." Incidentally, three franchises - Deccan Chargers, Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore - objected to bringing back the unsold players into the league, thus putting to rest any possibility of Ganguly's return.

But it was Pandey's case that was deliberated by the governing council members for a significant part of three-hour long meeting.

The IPL inspection team will visit both venues, the existing Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Kochi and the new ground in Pune, next week to decide the feasibility of hosting matches there.

--> Pandey, the most sought-after uncapped domestic player, attracted attention after the IPL got a complaint from his former owners Bangalore, who alleged that the player's agent was involved in discussions with rival teams and demanding more money than the rules allow.

The uncapped players have been placed in fixed price brackets by the IPL - those players who made their first-class debut in the last two years will be paid Rs 10 lakhs ($22,000); those in the field for two to five years would get Rs 20 lakhs ($44,000) and those with more than five years' experience Rs 30 lakhs ($66,000).

But, according to an IPL official, despite the lengthy discussions, the governing council could not conclusively ascertain if Pandey or his agent had committed any violations.

"It (the allegation) could not be established," the source revealed.

So, instead the IPL decided to allow Pandey, India's first centurion in the league, to play but with the rider that he sit out of the first four games.

The IPL also "rejected" Mumbai Indians' charge (expressed in a letter to the BCCI last week) that a last-minute change in the auction procedure had compromised the "level-playing field" for all franchises.

But in a statement released after the meeting today, the IPL said "the auction was transparent and fair" in response.

It stated the procedure was the same as all the previous IPL auctions and that representatives of all the franchisees had signed the briefing note accepting the rules, including India Win Sports Private Limited, the company that owns the Mumbai Indians.

"The Mumbai case was discussed in great detail but their complaint was rejected.

Their protest about not following auction rules does not hold water now because before the auction everybody submitted a signed letter," the source said.

According to him, Mumbai were indirectly trying to suggest that N Srinivisan, who is the owner of Chennai Super Kings, and a member of the governing council, was privy to everything during the auction and was influencing the buying of players which left other teams at a disadvantage.

"Mumbai will be provided with a detailed reply," the source said.

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Ganguly among four honoured with doctorate degree

Four eminent persons, including former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, was today awarded honorary doctorate degrees by the Assam University here.

Besides Ganguly, eminent historian Dr Irfan Habib, artist Prof K G Subramanyam and Assamese litterateur and journalist Homen Borgohain were honoured with the degrees at a ceremony held at the University.

The degrees were presented by the University's Vice Chancellor Prof Tapadir Bhattacharjee. Among others who spoke at the function included the Chief Guest N R Madhavan Menon who holds the Dr S Radhakrishnan Chair of Parliamentary Studies of the Rajya Sabha.

Congratz Dr.Sourav Ganguly..:)

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Free your mind, rest will follow :Ganguly

What is the difference between going into a World Cup as a player and later as a captain?

Playing and captaining a side in the same tournament is a different ball game, especially something like the World Cup. In 1999, it was about playing my own game; I was trying to create an impression as a player and did very well. The 2003 World Cup, which is among the best memories of my life, was different even though I had been a captain for three years and was used to being in the leadership role.

Is captaining in a World Cup far more difficult because of the pressure of expectations?

Of course, it is difficult but not necessarily because of pressure. I believe pressure is what you bring on to yourself. I didn't bring any pressure on myself. I always thought of a playing as an opportunity... rather than something that brought on pressure. I have always looked at life and sports that way.

There was backlash at India's bad performance initially in the 2003 World Cup, so much so that you asked Sachin to hold a press conference to appeal to Indians not to react in that manner?

No, in fact Sachin wanted to do it himself. They were attacking players' houses and cars at home - like it happened with Kaif and Yuvraj - and the attacks were personal. We did decide in the team meeting that we should make some kind of a statement and Sachin volunteered to do so.

What kind of pressure does this sort of reaction create on the team?

It does create pressure. But with Indian cricket I have observed that we do well when faced with adversity I think even now the team does well under pressure. I am not sure but I think that sort of a reaction became a blessing in disguise for us as everyone looked to stand up and be counted and that did make a difference.

As a cricketer, do you think such extreme reactions should happen?

No, no I don't think so. Even in recent press conferences I have said that for someone who has been part of this team I can say with authority that this is the best team for India even if they don't win the Cup. I feel this is the right way and I wish them luck and since it is being played at home, I hope it is the best World Cup ever held.

Tell us about the 2003 final which the team lost badly?

We didn't lose badly. We managed to score 234 to Australia's 359. We felt bad that we allowed them to score so much.

In hindsight, what went wrong?

We could've bowled better. The pitch was assisting seamers.

There was a lot of controversy over your decision to ask Australia bat first.

I don't think asking them to bat first was wrong. In hindsight you can always say so, but it was a damp wicket and the match began late because there was seepage under the covers and there was movement early on. But, we bowled short on that pitch.

The decision, I feel, was the right one and I had to take it straightaway. It is always easier to look back and think of what could have been the right decision.

In the present WC team there are a lot of youngsters brimming with talent, how does it compare with the 2003 team?

We were young too. Sachin, Rahul and me were 29 and then there were players like Yuvraj and Zaheer who were 22-23. It's the same kind of age ratio in this team as well.

Dhoni started his career under you. Did you spot something in him that implied that one day he could become a special leader?

At that stage I didn't think of him as a leader. He had just come into international cricket and was making a mark for himself.

In 2004-2005, what I saw in him as a player was his match-winning ability. I had always believed in those sort of players and that is why I backed players like Sehwag and Yuvraj, Zaheer and Harbhajan.

They may fail at times but on their day, when they are in their element, they can script a win as well. Dhoni had that spark and he showed it in his fifth game where he scored 148 batting against Pakistan at Vizag. I decided on the morning of the game that he would bat at number 3.

You had not conveyed to him earlier that he would bat at No. 3?

No, no. I told him after winning the toss.

Wasn't he surprised?

I told him go out there, and since the wicket was good, I advised him to bat freely. His body language didn't show any surprise. In fact he appeared very pleased. I had seen him bat as an opener in the Challenger Trophy before in which he had played for my team and there he had opened against Zaheer and Nehra. He not only scored a century, but completely smashed them. So I knew he had the ability.

Let me take you back to the disastrous 2007 World Cup for India. What happened?

I think the team lacked confidence in 2007. There were a lot of things weighing heavy on their minds. Players were coming in and going out of the squad and that created uncertainty. That is why I believe India will do well in this World Cup as unlike then, we have a settled team, are in a good frame of mind and have performed consistently well.

Do you think 2007 with Greg Chappell as coach is a classic example of how not to handle a team?

I really don't want to go into that now. There were various issues; someone like me came into the team just a tournament before the WC. Sehwag was in and out of the side throughout the year. Same was the case with Zaheer. He just about managed to get selected at the last moment. In short there was a lot of insecurity within the team. Also, we were talking about the World Cup for almost one and half years in advance. We were deliberating too much on it. I think we should treat it like any other important tournament, otherwise it puts a lot of pressure on the players and that is not correct.

Do you think India, because it is playing at home, will be under severe pressure?

Yes there will be a lot of pressure - that is bound to happen. But you have to deal with it. There is no choice. The players should accept this fact and get on with it. Since we are playing at home, everyone right from housekeepers to the Prime Minister of the country would expect them to win. And they will not keep it a secret. The players should realise they all are doing it out of love and affection. My advise to them is to just accept it and go out there and give it their best possible shot.

If you were the captain going into this world Cup what will be your strategy?

I would tell the players to play freely. Bowling and fielding in these conditions will need to be good. India has a strong batting line-up and chasing 300 plus scores on these wickets would not be a problem as batting is our main strength. This will be the first World Cup for many players and the last for a few, so they should all go out and enjoy.

What worries you about this team?

I feel that the bowlers need to perform well, especially the fast bowlers. Zaheer will need to look after himself. The team will also have to look after him. The bowlers will come under severe pressure so they need to be not just physically but mentally also free from any strain.

What makes coach Gary Kirsten so important?

I think he is a good man manager and treats the players as friends and not like a coach. He understands the mindset of the players and over a period of time has gained their trust.

What qualities have made Dhoni click as a captain?

I think he backs his players and gives them opportunities consistently, which is very important. He takes risks, which is also crucial for a captain. As a skipper you cannot just do things in the typical stereotyped manner. And he also has got a very good team. There is no doubt about that, and that is the reason why India are favourites for this World Cup.

Since he is playing all forms of the game non-stop, shouldn't we worry about his fitness?

He is young and has been around for 4-5 years, so he should play everything. Things change very quickly in Indian cricket. I know it is hard but my advise to him would be keep going as the life-span of a sportsperson is short.

At the same time yes, we should keep our fingers crossed and hope he remains fit, especially as we have gone into the World Cup without a second keeper.

Courtesy : Headlines Today

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Support India, urges Sourav

Calcutta: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has urged the fans to support the Indian side in the upcoming World Cup.

“If we win the World Cup, it will be fantastic… But even if we don’t win, we should support them. It’s a very good and settled side with a great bunch of boys,” Sourav said.

Sourav said that the selectors should have opted for a second wicketkeeper and medium-pacer Sreesanth.

“Sreesanth should have been taken. Plus every team will be coming with two wicketkeepers… So, it’s important that Dhoni remains fit,” Sourav said.

Asked who were the favourites, Sourav said: “All will be bringing their best sides… Australia have a strong pace attack in guys like (Brett) Lee and (Shaun) Tait. Pakistan with be the dark horse. South Africa will have (Jacques) Kallis while the West Indies boast of a strong batting line-up.”

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I haven't been approached by Kochi: Ganguly

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who was ignored by IPL franchises at the players' auction, on Thursday rubbished speculation that he was now being approached by Kochi through an open bidding process.

The most successful India captain, who found no takers from the 10 franchises in the IPL auction, said it was a media speculation that he was in talks with the team owned by Rendezvous Sports.

"I don't know much about Kochi, it seems you guys know more... Well till now, I've not been approached by any team," Ganguly told reporters during a promotional programme here.

Ganguly further said Sachin Tendulkar deserves to get the Bharat Ratna.

"As I've said earlier, he should get it. In near future, he should be getting it."

Media reports had said the Kochi IPL had contacted other teams to get a no-objection certificate (NOC) from them to rope in the left-hander.

As per the IPL rule, Ganguly can again be part of the IPL through an open bidding process if all the 10 franchises have no objection to the move.

The biggest cricketing extravangaza, World Cup, round the corner in the subcontinent and the temperature soaring high about India's prospects, Ganguly urged the fans to stand by the Mahendra Sing Dhoni and his men in wins and even in losses.

"If we win, it will be fantastic. But even if we don't win (the World Cup) we will still support you. It's a very good and settled side with a great bunch of boys," Ganguly said.

Ganguly also said Indian selectors should have opted for a second wicket-keeper and medium-pacer Sreesanth.

"As I've said earlier, Sreesanth should have been taken. Every team will be coming with two wicketkeepers. So, it's important that Dhoni is fit."

Asked about the favourites, Ganguly said: "All of them will be bringing their best sides. Australia have a strong pace attack in guys like (Brett) Lee and (Shaun) Tait. Pakistan with its talent should be the darkhorse. South Africa will have (Jacques) Kallis while the West Indies boast of a strong batting line-up."

He also expressed confidence that Eden Gardens would be ready in time amidst fears that the renovation work is going way behind schedule.

"I'm sure it will be completed and be ready in time for the (four) World Cup matches," Ganguly said.

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Dada attends Green photo show

Cricketer Sourav Ganguly and soccer star Bhaichung Bhutia turned up along with Tollywood star Prosenjit at a photography exhibition by ace lensman Utpaal Sorkkar here at a city hotel.“Save the Untamed” is supported by Bluechip Projects and aims at awakening people about protecting ‘Mother Nature’.“It is speed and action that I have always discovered in sports photography, similarly in animals and birds also I have discovered a certain action and speed and it is this momentum that I have tried to showcase in my photographs,” Utpaal Sorkkar said.The exhibition was inaugurated by two stars from the sporting fields- Saurav Ganguly and Baichung Bhutia.

“It’s a different occasion. I have known him as a sports photographer. But to see such pictures from such a different world is indeed fabulous,” former Indian cricket team captain Saurav Ganguly said.

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Dalmiya weak, Sourav buzz grows !!

Jan. 29: Two months after Anil Kumble came to head the Karnataka State Cricket Association, there’s speculation over Sourav Ganguly offering himself as a candidate for the top post in the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) elections later this year.

Traditionally, the AGM is held in July.

So, will it then be exit one-time czar Jagmohan Dalmiya; enter Sourav, India’s most successful Test captain? After the India-England World Cup match controversy, which has enraged Calcuttans and embarrassed the state, that is a reasonably strong possibility.

Dalmiya hasn’t, of course, indicated he’d like to declare his long innings closed. Neither has Sourav said anything publicly. But both are bound to come under pressure for very different reasons: one to step aside, the other to take guard in a new role.

At 70, Dalmiya is vulnerable. Sourav, on the other hand, has thrived in pressure situations. Even Greg Chappell would have to give that to him.

Sourav, 38, has the potential to turn things around and inject energy into the CAB. Kumble, incidentally, is 40.

According to well-placed sources of The Telegraph, those currently calling the shots in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had been wanting Sourav to mount a challenge back in 2009, months after his India career ended.

He didn’t for two reasons: (a) not wanting to fight Dalmiya, a mentor at one time, and (b) there were IPL commitments to fulfil.

Sourav won’t have to take on Dalmiya if the veteran (who has held every major position in world cricket) decides to call it a day. As for the IPL factor, Sourav is without a franchise and, surely, has already played his last match of any consequence.

Bottom line is that he has to bite the bullet.

So far, the closest that Sourav has come to opposing Dalmiya, that too in an oblique manner, was when he backed Prasun Mukherjee on the eve of the 2006 elections in the CAB.

It turned out to be a bad move, as the then commissioner of police, despite having the benefit of the state machinery, failed to unseat Dalmiya.

With no second-rung leadership worth its name in the CAB, it shouldn’t be much of a problem if Sourav does decide to contest. But he’ll have to be wary of the chota moguls, who control a chunk of the 121 votes.

They don’t have the vision, but are big on ambition. Hardly the right combination for a body in urgent need of a makeover.

The Eden is getting a new look, but what about the CAB itself?

Apparently, a key BCCI official recently sent a message to Sourav on the lines of “you’ve got to take a call, not that everything comes on a platter...”

Dalmiya’s relations with the BCCI have improved in recent times, but it has been powered by circumstances.

It would be wrong to assume that president Shashank Manohar and president-elect Narayanswamy Srinivasan actually trust Dalmiya. Equally, it can’t be taken for granted he trusts them entirely.

Manohar and Srinivasan would be much happier doing business with a fresh face, a Sourav, for example.

To talk of Kumble, another distinguished former captain, he defeated Mysore royal Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar by a rather narrow margin — 40. His team, though, won big.

However, that Kumble just about made it, personally, confirmed that there were no guarantees anywhere.

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Sourav Ganguly turns cricket expert on radio

With the cricket World Cup round the corner, former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly is set to become a game expert on radio to dish out his thoughts and opinions on matches.

The 38-year-old sportsman, who made his foray into showbiz with 'Dadagiri' on a regional channel in Bengal, will now be heard on Fever 104 FM in their new segment 'One Day Mataram' dedicated to cricket.

Ganguly will be reviewing ongoing matches as well as interacting with listeners in the short segment to be aired on the channel at various times throughout the day.

"I'm very happy to be associated with Fever 104 FM for One Day Mataram. Their concept is unique and their passion for the game is genuine. The format is well structured with high interactivity and engagement.

"I am really looking forward to being the voice of One Day Mataram, and I hope to engage with all the listeners," said Ganguly in a statement.

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Kochi's efforts to sign Ganguly hit roadblock !

Dubai: The Kochi franchise has gone on the backfoot on their plans to sign up Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian skipper, who failed to find any takers in the auction for the fourth edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier this month.

Ganguly, who captained Kolkata Knight Riders for two seasons, was on the unsold list along with the West Indian legend Brian Lara and few others.

Admitting the franchise had made enquiries with the Indian board last week if they could buy the retired international, well placed sources in the team said the effort has hit a roadblock as it doesn't look likely that they can get a "no objection" from the other nine franchises on the issue.

"We had made enquiries with the IPL governing council to see if there is any possibility of signing up Ganguly. However, it seems too late now as all the franchises may not give us the necessary go ahead," sources told Gulf News.

As per the IPL rules, Ganguly can again be part of the IPL through an open bidding process if all the 10 franchises have no objection to the move.

However, with all franchises having exhausted their budget cap of $9 million (Dh33 million) for the season, they are unlikely to allow the extra buying by the new outfit.

Explaining their position, Venky Mysore, CEO of his erstwhile team Kolkata Knight Riders, said: "As you know, we have been speaking with him (Ganguly) from even before the auction to remain a Knight Rider in a non-cricketing role. We would very much like him to still consider that proposal.

"However, if he is keen on playing, we would have no objection whatsoever and would only wish him the very best," the official added.

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Bhutia questions Ganguly's ouster from IPL

Indian football icon Bhaichung Bhutia today batted for IPL discard Sourav Ganguly, saying that his age cannot be a factor for being overlooked in the Indian Premier League auction.

"Age cannot determine how long a player can play. It should always be performance oriented," Bhutia said when asked to react on Ganguly's exit from IPL IV after he found no takers in the players' auction.

Citing example of Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro, Bhutia said: "There are a lot of players like Cannavaro and an Australian goalkeeper who played even at 40. Age should never be a barrier."

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