Date:10/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/10/stories/2008101055012300.htm

Sport - Cricket

Vengsarkar praises Ganguly

Mumbai: Former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar hailed Sourav Ganguly, who is to retire at the end of the India-Australia four-Test cricket series, as a fine captain who has had a superb international career.

“Ganguly had a superb career as a cricketer. He was an outstanding captain and a great player. I suppose all great careers have to end at some time or the other. Probably the fact that he had to play for India ‘A’ following his selection in the Test team might have triggered the decision (to quit),” Vengsarkar said on Wednesday.

It was the Vengsarkar-led selection panel that resurrected Ganguly’s floundering career after the Bengal stalwart’s spat with the then India coach Greg Chappell resulted in him losing not only his captaincy but also his place in the national squad in early 2006.

Vengsarkar said there was no doubt about the 36-year- old Ganguly’s class when he was dropped for the Irani Cup tie but there were concerns only about his motivation level. — PTI