M A I N   N E W S

Sourav appeals to fans

Kolkata, December 17
Sourav Ganguly today appealed to his fans to desist from activities that disrupted normal life and expressed confidence that he would make a comeback to top-flight cricket by virtue of his performance. “Life needs to get back to normal and any bandh will jeopardise public life,” Ganguly said in a statement.

Not proper to interfere: Pawar

Mumbai: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sharad Pawar on Saturday told former BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya that it was “not proper” on his part to interfere in the Selection Committee’s decision to drop Sourav Ganguly from the Indian team for the Ahmedabad Test.

In his reply to Mr Dalmiya’s letter, which urged reinstatement of Ganguly, Pawar said, “I understand the feelings of Sourav’s fans, but I am of the firm opinion that we should not interfere with the selection process as the selectors are appointed by the General Body and we must repose faith in them.”

Bindra slams Dalmiya

Mohali: Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) President I.S. Bindra on Saturday came down heavily on former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya for demanding the reinstatement of deposed captain Sourav Ganguly.

In a statement issued here, he accused Mr Dalmiya of misleading BCCI President Sharad Pawar. “In his anxiety or enthusiasm to be seen on the side of Ganguly, he (Dalmiya) issued a hotchpotch of a statement with factual inaccuracies, either to mislead Mr Pawar deliberately or to take the cricket-loving public for a ride,” he alleged.

He also warned Mr Dalmiya against giving the issue a political colour. — PTI, UNI