MUMBAI: Cricket Board President Sharad Pawar has said it was up to the national selection committee whether to recall axed Bengal star Sourav Ganguly or not.
"The selection committee will decide (on the Ganguly issue). We (BCCI) will not interfere (in the matter)," the Union Agriculture Minister said
Board sources have indicated that Ganguly, cold shouldered by the selectors after returning from Pakistan at the end of the three-Test series in January, was likely to be named in the preliminary list of 30 probables for the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy to be chosen in Bangalore on August 9.
Reacting to news reports that Maharashtra Cricket Association intended to hire the services of overseas players, particularly Shane Warne or Stuart McGill from Australia, to represent their team in the Ranji Trophy national championship, Pawar said he was not aware of any such proposal.
"As per my understanding, only Indians can play in Ranji matches," he said.
However, overseas stars like England great Dennis Compton and West Indies fast bowlers Roy Gilchrist and Lester King have played in the national championship in the 1950s and 1960s and Pawar seemed unaware of this.
