Dalmiya demands Ganguly's recall

Jagmohan Dalmiya, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president, became the latest public figure to demand changes in the Indian cricket team by calling for the immediate reinstatement of Sourav Ganguly in the team, saying his recent performance showed that he was fit and in top form.

Politicians had jumped in the fray recently with one federal minister demanding on Monday that Chappell face a privilege motion in Parliament after his response to some MPs' criticism of the team's performance.

"After the way Ganguly played on the pacer-friendly track in Mohali [in the Ranji Trophy opener against Punjab], he surely deserves a place in the Indian team," Dalmiya said here after a CAB working committee meeting.

Briefing newspersons about the deliberations, Dalmiya said the association would request the BCCI to impress upon the national selection committee the need to consider recalling Ganguly in the national team.A resolution to that effect was passed in the meeting.

Ganguly recently showed signs of returning to form with a century in the Duleep Trophy before scoring 43 on a fast and bouncy Mohali wicket. "At Mohali, more than the number of runs, the way he got them shows he is now as fit as he was in the past. Also he is in full form," Dalmiya said.

Ganguly has been out of the Indian team since turning out in the Karachi Test against Pakistan earlier this year. He played his last ODI in 2005 in Sri Lanka.