DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka, 2 August 2005 — Sourav Ganguly said yesterday he had no problems playing as a batsman after leading India for more than five years in international cricket.
“I played under others when I was not captain,” said Ganguly, who returned to the Indian squad for the remaining matches of the ongoing tri-series here after serving a four-match ban.
Ganguly was captain when suspended for his team’s slow over-rate against Pakistan in a home one-day series in April.
He missed two one-dayers against Pakistan and as many of the current tournament, also featuring the West Indies. The left-handed batsman was included as a 16th member of the Indian squad, led by Rahul Dravid here.
“I am not captain now and I don’t mind it,” said Ganguly, who joined the squad this morning. “I will just go and play my game. I am not worried about it (captaincy) as I have done the job for more than five years,” said Ganguly, who was appointed captain in February 2000.
“I have been included in the team on form. I have been playing cricket for the past two-and-a-half months. I will have a light session in the evening.”
Ganguly, eligible for India’s next day-night match tomorrow against Sri Lanka, played for more than two months for English county Glamorgan after being banned.
Sri Lanka to Save Jayasuriya and Vaas for Key Contests
Sri Lanka will avoid risking key injured batsman Sanath Jayasuriya and fast bowler Chaminda Vaas in unimportant matches of the ongoing triangular one-day cricket series, their captain said yesterday.
Left-handed opener Jayasuriya dislocated his right shoulder while fielding during the Indian innings on Saturday, while left-arm seamer Vaas is recovering from a hamstring strain.
Jayasuriya batted in pain to score a vital 43 not out in his team’s three-wicket victory over India in the opening match of the tournament, which also features the West Indies.
The hard-hitting opener is now just 33 short of becoming only the third batsman after India’s Sachin Tendulkar and Pakistani Inzamam ul-Haq to complete 10,000 runs in one-day cricket. Vaas, who suffered his injury during the second and final Test against the West Indies in Kandy last month, did not play against India.
Sri Lanka are expected to win their second match here today even without the duo as they clash with a depleted West Indies. They have already beaten the tourists in the two-Test series.
“We will assess Jayasuriya’s condition on the afternoon of the match. He is progressing well and I hope he will be fit for more important games,” Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu said.
