Source: Thai Indian Date: September 14, 2009
This was Ganguly’s third visit to state after 15 years.
Ganguly after visiting the MBB Cricket Stadium said that there has been rapid infrastructure development of cricket in the state and with it in the coming days the state can go for conducting national and international matches.
The former Indian captain also met budding cricketers and coaches and gave them useful tips, which were welcomed.
During his visit, Ganguly accepted an offer of being the technical adviser for development of cricket in Tripura.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar also felicitated Ganguly, who will leave the state on Monday. (ANI)
Keen to play for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, Sourav Ganguly on Saturday padded up at Eden Gardens and batted for close to two hours in the morning.
Ganguly, who bid adieu to international cricket last year, practiced in the company of former Bengal players Gopal Bose and Goutam Shome Junior.
Ganguly condoles Dungarpur's death
Source: Times of India Date: September 12, 2009
KOLKATA: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Saturday condoled the passing away of former BCCI chief Raj Singh Dungarpur and said his death a loss to country's cricket.
Close to a year after retiring from international cricket, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has said he may play for Bengal in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. The 37-year-old pointed out that he was open to the idea of playing "a few of the four-day Ranji Trophy matches" if the Bengal selectors were keen on including him in the team.
"At the moment I haven't spoken to anybody, but I'll definitely be speaking to the selectors, and if I'm required, then I won't mind playing a few matches," Ganguly told the Telegraph, the Kolkata-based daily. "The 2009-10 season is again a very crucial one for Bengal and we're in a tough group. So, if I'm required, I'll be there."
It was reported earlier that Ganguly would be playing for Bengal only in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to gain some match practice before turning out for Kolkata Knight Riders in the third edition of the IPL in March-April next year. However, he said he was keen on playing the home games during the Ranji season and the knock-out matches later, if Bengal qualified.
"I cannot sit out 11 months in a year and hope to fire in the IPL," Ganguly told the Times of India. "It may be Twenty20 cricket, but let's not forget that it's a top-class international tournament and the standard of cricket is very high. I need to get into the groove before IPL 3 starts in March 2010."
Ganguly played 113 Tests and 311 ODIs and scored 7212 and 11363 runs respectively at an average of 40-plus. He also featured in 242 first-class matches, and is 67 short of reaching 15000 runs.
With Bengal taking on heaavyweights like Uttar Pradesh, Saurashtra, Karnakata, Maharashtra, Baroda and Delhi in Group B of the Ranji Trophy Super League this season, Ganguly's experience is expected to bolster Bengal's fragile middle order. Bengal are also set to welcome back ICL players like Deep Dasgupta, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala and Rohan Gavaskar.
Bengal captain Laxmi Ratan Shukla and selector Devang Gandhi were both delighted with Ganguly's decision. "Dadi making a comeback is big news. It will be great for Bengal and a huge plus for Bengal cricket. It will be of great advantage if he turns out this season," Shukla told the Telegraph.
"With the world of experience Sourav's presence brings to the team, it will definitely help Bengal cricket," Gandhi said.
However, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) said it was not yet aware of the development. "He hasn't told us anything," said CAB joint-secretary Biswarup Dey. "It won't be fair to make a comment based on media statements."
Ganguly, who is also the chairman of CAB's new cricket development committee, said the decision was unlikely to interfere with his administrative responsibilities. "Not at all. I will do what I can as a member of the CAB working and cricket committees," Ganguly said. "Balancing the two won't be a problem. And like always, I will give it my best shot."
Hilsa & training, Sourav laps up Tripura menu
Source: Telegraph India Date: September 15, 2009
Ganguly was specially invited by the chief minister’s wife, Panchali Bhattacharya, for lunch through Arindam Ganguly, the secretary of the Tripura Cricket Association. As Panchali took up the ladle to serve the guest herself, Ganguly thought it fit not to disappoint her.
“There were duck eggs and Sourav had four of them. He did not have much rice though,” an aide close to the chief minister said.
Of course, there was dal to accompany the rice — a meal the cricketer later described as “very homely food”.
The “homely” touch was only natural. The Tripura chief minister is a known cricket lover and a big fan of Ganguly.
Digging into the hilsa, Ganguly could not help lamenting the unavailability of such “tasty fish” in the Calcutta markets. “Sourav absolutely relished the hilsa,” the aide said.
Sources in the chief minister’s office said the hilsa was specially ordered from one of the biggest fish exporters of Agartala.
Unlike in other parts of the country, people in Agartala get to savour fresh hilsa as the place in Bangladesh where the fish is loaded for export is only around two-and-a-half hours’ drive from the Tripura capital.
Before leaving for Calcutta this morning, Sourav lauded the progress made by Tripura in building cricket infrastructure since 1995 when he had come to the state to play a Ranji Trophy match.
“There has been 60 per cent improvement since then as more or less all the facilities are there. Tripura will make rapid strides in cricket,” Ganguly said.
He also offered to train promising cricketers from the state for free in his Calcutta academy.
Earlier yesterday, Ganguly was accorded a rousing welcome by the Tripura Cricket Association and was given a reception in Nazrul Kalakshetra where he also distributed prizes during the association’s annual prize giving ceremony.
He also interacted with budding players at the Maharaja Vir Vikram Stadium where he gave tips and instructions to cricketers, impressing on the pace bowlers the importance of landing the ball in the right areas
Ganguly keen to play Ranji for BengalKOLKATA: Less than 10 months after retiring from first-class cricket, Sourav Ganguly is planning a return to Ranji Trophy this season.
Sourav, who had earlier declared that he would be playing for Bengal only in the National ODI Championship for the Vijay Hazare Trophy to get some serious match-practice before IPL-3, has now reconsidered his decision, and for good reasons too.
"Look, I cannot sit out 11 months in a year and hope to fire in the IPL. It may be Twenty20 cricket, but let's not forget that it's a top-class international tournament and the standard of cricket is very high. I need to get into the groove IPL-3 starts in March 2010," Sourav told TOI.
"Initially, I had planned to play only the national One-dayers, but I there is nothing better than playing first-class cricket to test yourself," he added.
Sourav is unlikely to figure in Bengal's all matches, but is certainly keen on playing the home games to start with. He is also game for taking part in the knock-out matches if Bengal qualify.
Incidentally, Sourav had made a significant contribution when he last played for Bengal in a Ranji Trophy match - against Goa in the Plate Group semi-final.
Bengal won the match to ensure a return to the Elite Group. His innings of 69 alongside Dibyendu Chakraborty's 82 was one of the turning points of the match.
With Bengal taking on heavyweights like Delhi, Karnataka, UP, Baroda, Sourav's experience will definitely help to bolster Bengal’s fragile middle-order. Bengal, of course, is also set to welcome back ICL prodigals like Deep Dasgupta, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala and Rohan Gavaskar.
Sourav is yet to convey his desire to return to first-class cricket to the Bengal selectors as the CAB is yet to formally reappoint them.
Sambaran Banerjee, who is all set to officially resume his duties as the chairman of the selection committee from next week, refused to comment on the issue. "I have heard that he has expressed his desire to play Ranji Trophy again. Let me first speak to him and then only will I get a clearer picture," Banerjee said.
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Kolkata, Sep 10 (PTI) Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, who had retired from international cricket last year, may play for Bengal in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season.
The 37-year-old cricketer, who has decided to play for his state side in domestic one-dayers in order to tune up for Indian Premier League, also contemplating a return to the four-day format.
"If I am required, then I would like to play first class cricket also. I need to get in shape before IPL-III," Ganguly told a local TV channel yesterday.
However, the left-hander is yet to convey his desire to the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).
"As of now, I have just thought about this and have not spoken to anybody. But I will definitely convey this to the selectors," Ganguly said
KKR aiming for Deccan like turnaround in IPL 3
KOLKATA: Busy rectifying mistakes that the Kolkata Knight Riders committed this year, Sourav Ganguly on Tuesday said his team, which ended bottom
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"Obviously we have looked at the mistakes that we committed and we are trying to rectify them. But I won't say in public what those mistakes were," Ganguly said.
"We want to do better then last time. Just like Deccan Chargers, who finished last in the first edition but won the trophy in IPL II. Similarly, take the case of Royal Challengers Bangalore, they were second-last in IPL I, but finished runners-up this year," he pointed out.
The former India skipper, who is widely tipped to return as KKR captain, sidestepped queries on the much-speculated appointment of a new coach for the team.
"I am not really worried about the coaches. What I am worried about is the team. I am spending a lot of time and trying to get the team right.
"Obviously I know the names of the coaches in contention but I don't have the authority to reveal them. It's Shah Rukh Khan and Jay Mehta who will take the decision but I have a say in that," Ganguly said.
Asked about speculations that Wasim Akram is the favourite to get the job, Ganguly said that Shah Rukh did have a word with the former Pakistan captain on the matter.
"Yeah, I have good relations with Wasim Akram. He was a great bowler. Though I know him very well but it was SRK who had a chat with Wasim,"
