Ganguly recalled to Team India

NEW DELHI: After nearly a year in wilderness, Sourav Ganguly on Thursday made a dramatic comeback to the Indian Test team in the wake of the side's disastrous performance in South Africa and calls for bringing back experienced players.

The selectors also dropped Mohammad Kaif and Suresh Raina from the squad and removed out of form Virender Sehwag from vice-captaincy which now goes to VVS Laxman.

The decision to recall Ganguly was taken by the national selectors, who, significantly, met BCCI President Sharad Pawar at his residence here before their meeting to select the 16-member squad for the three-Test series against South Africa beginning on December 15.

The Bengal left-hander, who has had reasonable success in domestic matches, was widely speculated to make it to the team after the relatively inexperienced Indian side struggled on fast-paced South African tracks to suffer one humiliating defeat after another.

Ganguly comes in the place of an injured Yuvraj Singh in the middle order while Zaheer Khan was rewarded for his show in the one-dayers with a Test berth.

Delhi opener Gautam Gambhir was also finally rewarded for his consistency in domestic circuit with a place in the 16, announced by BCCI Secretary and Selection Committee Convenor Niranjan Shah at a press conference here.

Asked about the inclusion of Ganguly, Chairman of selection committee Dilip Vengsarkar said it was felt that there was a need to have experienced players in the squad.

"If you look at the performances in South Africa, our batting has failed. We need experienced players like Laxman and Ganguly," the former Indian captain said.

Vengsarkar said the selectors wanted to send the message that nobody could take their place in the team for granted through their decision to strip Sehwag of vice-captaincy.

On the inclusion of Laxman for the ODI series after he had commented that he was not fit for one-day cricket, Vengsarkar said, "He will be available for only one ODI. There is no question about Laxman's ability. It is only fitness but that can always be improved."

Vengsarkar also backed Irfan Pathan to fire again soon.

"Pathan bowled well the other day. He also batted well. You cannot just drop him like that, it will spoil his confidence. He is the player for the future, we are sure he will perform soon."

Team: Rahul Dravid (capt), Wasim Jaffer, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), VVS Laxman (vice-capt), Dinesh Kaarthick, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan, VRV Singh, Zaheer Khan and S Sreesanth.

Buddha happy at Ganguly's recall

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee expressed happiness at Sourav Ganguly's return to the Indian cricket team and said the move should have taken place earlier.

"That's great," Bhattacharjee said, when asked to react on Ganguly's inclusion in the team for the Test series in South Africa.

"It's a very good news. But I feel he should have been taken back earlier," said Bhattacharjee, an ardent fan of the former Indian cricketer.