Karachi: Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly got in and out of the Indian team on the same day. The Indian selectors have dropped Ganguly for the one-day series though he has been included in the playing XI for the third Test.
Ganguly was not aware of his exclusion from the one-day squad until he came into the dressing room for tea. His selection yesterday looked like a parting gift before his departure to India from here.
Ganguly's omission sparked off yet another debate in the press box here.
"What did he do to be dropped for the one-dayers?" asked an agitated Kolkata-based journalist.
"What did he do to be included in the XI?" retorted a Delhi-based journalist.
According to information, the Indian team management was already informed that Ganguly would not be included in the one-day team. He was included for this Test to quash criticism that the selection committee was biased towards Ganguly.
It is understood that coach Greg Chappell wanted a fourth pacer to be included in the XI for this Test. However, skipper Rahul Dravid insisted on including Ganguly for this Test.
Zaheer elated
Zaheer Khan, who bowled well in the morning session here and also on the flat track at Faisalabad, was happy to hear about his inclusion in the one-day squad.
Khan had missed the last two one-day series against South Africa and was not sure whether he would be retained for the one-day series against Pakistan.
The one-day series against Pakistan is scheduled from February 6 at Peshawar. Ganguly, along with Parthiv Patel, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble and Wasim Jaffer, will return home at the end of this Test.
According to a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) release, the Indian selection committee has recalled Kerala's S. Sreesanth to strengthen the pace attack. The Indians will have now five pacers to choose from during the one-dayers.
SQUAD
Rahul Dravid (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, R.P. Singh, Murali Karthik, Harbhajan Singh and S. Sreesanth.
