Sports

Asia - Africa series : ganguly protests at his omission

DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka, Tuesday (AFP) The inaugural Asia-Africa cricket series to be played in South Africa later this month was plunged into controversy on Tuesday when former India captain Sourav Ganguly protested at his omission.

Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly gets ready to play a stroke at the nets in Dambulla. Ganguly arrived in Sri Lanka early August 01 and joined the rest of the Indian cricket team in Dambulla, after his ban for slow over rates was cut from six matches to four, allowing him to play there in the later stages of a one-day tri-series also featuring the West Indies. (AFP)

Ganguly, only 33 runs away from becoming the third batsman after compatriot Sachin Tendulkar and Pakistan's Inzamam-ul Haq to score 10,000 one-day runs, said he was "disgusted" at being left out of the 15-man Asia squad.

"It is a raw deal," Ganguly told reporters in this town which is hosting a tri-series between India, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

"I may not have scored in my four one-dayers this year, but does anybodys selection anywhere depend on four matches?

"What about the nearly 10,000 one-day runs I have got? Dont they have value? Am I always to be the whipping boy?

"I am disgusted."

The made-for-television Asia versus Africa one-dayers, granted official status by the International Cricket Council, will be played in Centurion, Pretoria on August 17 and at Kingsmead, Durban on August 20 and 21. Both squads were announced on Monday night.

The Asian squad, captained by Inzamam, includes six Pakistanis, four each from India and Sri Lanka and one Bangladeshi.

Ganguly, replaced as India captain by Rahul Dravid after being banned for slow over-rates against Pakistan in April, said Inzamam deserved to lead Asia.

"I am happy Inzy has got the captaincy and I would not have had a problem playing under him," he said.

"What I can't understand is why the chief selectors of the four Test-playing nations did not do the choosing and picking?"

The Asian selection panel included Majid Khan of Pakistan, Ravi Shastri of India, Graeme Labrooy of Sri Lanka and Shafiq-ul Haque of Bangladesh, none of whom currently serve on their respective national selection committees.

Media reports, citing unnamed sources, said Majid and Shastri threatened to walk out of the panel when one of the Asian officials suggested that Ganguly be included in the squad.

Africa named a provisional 19-man squad with Shaun Pollock leading in the first two games since his South African captain Graeme Smith is serving a two-match ban for slow over-rates. Smith will captain Africa for the third match.

Africa: Graeme Smith, Shaun Pollock, Boeta Dippenaar, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, Albie Morkel, Mark Boucher, Monde Zondeki, Jacques Rudolph, Nicky Boje, Justin Ontong, Dale Steyn (all South Africa); Steve Tikolo, Collins Obuya, Thomas Odoyo (Kenya); Heath Streak, Tatenda Taibu, Andy Blignaut (Zimbabwe).