End of the road for Ganguly?

Sa'adi Thawfeeq reporting from India, NEW DELHI, Thursday, Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly was dropped from the Indian squad of 15 for the third and final Test against Sri Lanka leading to speculation that it could spell the end of his Test career. India's chairman of selectors Kiran More said at the end of the second Test here today that Ganguly had been replaced by 27-year-old Bombay right-hand opener Wasim Jaffer.

Jaffer played the last of his seven Tests in August 2002 against England. More said that Jaffer was picked on current form and that dropping Ganguly was to ensure that Yuvraj Singh had a place in the side.

Ganguly who was included in the Indian 15 for the first two Tests against Sri Lanka made 40 and 39 in the Delhi Test after being dismissed for five in the rain affected Chennai Test. Following his spat with Indian coach Greg Chappell who is also part of the selection committee, Ganguly's future in the team looked uncertain.

Amidst mounting pressure he was included for the first two Tests of the Sri Lankan series as a batting all-rounder which many thought was a flimsy excuse given by the selectors to justify his selection in the squad.

Following the change of guard in the BCCI cricket administration at their AGM held recently from Calcutta based Jagmohan Dalmiya to Shahad Pawar from Bombay severed the last link in Ganguly's cricket future.

More said that the selectors reckoned Wasim was a good player of fast bowling and that they were looking ahead of the Pakistan tour which starts next month. "We are preparing for the Pakistan series and there is some concern over the opening slot," said More.

"Yuvraj is in great form. He showed his potential the way he batted in the one-dayers and in this Test. We are looking at the future here. We want to give him more opportunities because we think he can go on for another five-six years.

Pakistan and England are not going to be easy series. We are looking on the long term," he said.

INDIA: Rahul Dravid (captain), Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Lakshman, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammed Kaif, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Ajith Agarkar, Irfan Pathan, Gautam Gambhir, Murali Kartik, Rudra Pratap Singh.