Sport

Ganguly's selection defies logic

PETER ROEBUCK

Sourav Ganguly's selection for the tour to Pakistan defies logic. Raj Singh Dungapur's proclamation that Ganguly will play in the Tests is likewise surprising, especially as it comes from a manager and not a selector. The only conclusion to be drawn is that the executive has bowed to pressure and intends to give Ganguly a fitting farewell.

If Ganguly is indeed chosen to play in front of Yuvraj Singh — he has already been preferred to Mohammad Kaif — then he will have been treated with a consideration that borders on infatuation. By the same token the man he is replacing will have been treated in a cavalier manner likely to dent his confidence. And what happens next? When Dravid's time comes is he to be permitted one last lingering wave? When Sachin finally loses form will he get a sympathy vote? A precedent has been set.

Sentiment a luxury

Sentiment is a luxury in sports and politics alike. Leaders and sportsmen cannot choose the time of their passing. They undertake these activities well aware of their fickleness. Greater leaders even than the Bengali have not been spared. Julius Caesar was stabbed at the Senate after bestowing many glories upon his empire. Winston Churchill was sacked as Prime Minister a few months after he had led his country to victory in a World War.

Churchill's rejection must have seemed monstrously ungrateful. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. But the electorate was right. They admired the old warhorse immeasurably, loved him considerably and yet voted for tomorrow's man, a Prime Minister capable of rebuilding a battered land and creating a better society. His successor developed the Welfare State and was happy to grant India the independence it had been seeking.

Ganguly also seems like yesterday's hero. Admittedly he is by cricketing standards still a young man but his training methods have been notoriously lax so he has the body of a veteran. Is it true that he refused to take the fitness tests at the camps held before every campaign? Nor has Ganguly been an enthusiastic visitor to gyms. Signing the book is the easy part.

Spirited cricket

India has been playing some spirited cricket. Irfan Pathan has become a talented all-rounder whose abilities might allow the selectors to play five bowlers without weakening the batting, Dhoni has emerged as a fine stumper, Zaheer Khan is a reformed character, even Ajit Agarkar has improved thanks to bowling from closer to the stumps. Virender Sehwag has been told to slim down. These are steps in the right direction.

Now India must visit Pakistan and welcome England with an unsettled side. These are crucial, formative challenges to be met by a side with a single thought and a united spirit. Instead India has allowed confusion into its ranks. The rights of the individual have been put before the interests of the team.

Ganguly's role in Pakistan must be defined. Presumably Yuvrav will be dropped and he will take his place, a decision likely to affect the morale of the side. Yuvraj scored runs in his last match and deserves a chance to establish himself. Alternatively Ganguly could be left twiddling his thumbs which seems worse than omitting him altogether. If a reserve is needed it is better to give an emerging batsman the chance to sample the atmosphere of Test cricket.

Supposing Gangles scores a few runs, what then? In a year's time the whole process will begin again. Indian cricket has made a rod for its own back.

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