More upset over Ganguly missing Ranji match

Kiran More, the chairman of selectors, is upset that Sourav Ganguly did not play for Bengal in their Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat, in spite of being asked to do so.

"I am surprised and shocked that Sourav is not playing the Ranji Trophy match. This was the ideal time to get some match practice before the Pakistan tour," More was quoted as saying by the Times of India. "BCCI should ask for an explanation from Sourav on why he is not playing the match. He had already missed the last round as well."

Niranjan Shah, the board secretary, said that an explanation would be sought in due time. "If Sourav was free he should have played the Ranji match. I don't know what the reason is, but we will definitely ask him why he missed out."

More was unhappy with the reason given for Ganguly missing the match. Pranob Roy, Cricket Association of Bengal chairman of selectors, and Sardindu Pal, the CAB secretary, said that they were unable to contact Ganguly. "Pronab did not know where Sourav is. I also spoke to Paras Mhambrey [Bengal coach], but he too was clueless and did not know how to contact Sourav. This is really surprising. There is nothing like match practice and since we have just one tour game in Pakistan, it would have helped Sourav if he had played the match."

More added that he had asked Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag to play for Delhi and that VVS Laxman had called him and asked to play for Hyderabad against Services. After much speculation, Ganguly was included in the 16-man squad for the Test series in Pakistan beginning in January 2006.