‘Let’s just get on with the game’

The first googly bowled at India came even before play began today — and it came from their own side. The players were still warming up...

The first googly bowled at India came even before play began today — and it came from their own side. The players were still warming up for the first day’s play against Pakistan ‘A’ at the Bagh-E-Jinnah ground when news filtered in of team manager Raj Singh Dungarpur’s alleged outburst (later denied) against Sourav Ganguly.

This was the last thing the cricketers needed, especially as they thought they’d left the confusion behind in India. ‘‘Let’s just get on with the game,’’ one senior player said, the disapproval clear on his face, as he sought to get their focus back on track.

The ripple effects were felt through the day, which was sad really because here was a day made for cricket: Clear skies, bright sun, not too cold and the comforting sound of wood hitting leather as Jaffer and Gambhir gave India a solid start.

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Yet the whispers wouldn’t go away and eventually Dungarpur—standing right in front of the players’ pavilion—denied everything that he’d been quoted as saying.

Back home, the issue inevitably snowballed with Jagmohan Dalmiya saying he’d raise it at the next BCCI meeting. Ganguly, when asked for his comment, refused to react, saying only that he’d prove himself on the field.

Dungarpur in denial mode

		What he said about Sourav Friday • Sourav is not a student of the game. He is also not a role model of a captain. A captain cannot be the laziest and possbily the worst fielder of the side • Former coach John Wright had expressed his frustrations several times to me but was too mild to succeed in getting Ganguly out Saturday • Sourav is a tremendous batsman and his offside play is simply great. His vast experience should help the Indian team in the series against Pakistan • If someone known to me comes and asks some questions I might have said something in private, but to show it on TV seems like the instructions have come from Eden Gardens

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