Sourav left to vie in a close run

India handed Pakistan a lot to talk about. ‘‘Sourav Ganguly, who led India to their most famous victory in recent years, is now a baggage to the Indian side,’’ is what one local daily wrote.

The entire package, though, could still work in the favour of the visitors. Six batsmen who’ve played in the warm-up vs Pakistan A so far have all got fifties. In fact, Wasim Jaffer — who may not find a place in the XI, and Yuvraj Singh — who’s always been tied up with Ganguly for his spot in the team — notched up the most interesting half-centuries in the entire six.

In such a scenario, Ganguly’s only chances of getting to play are if India decides to rest off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and go ahead with a ‘bowling allrounder.’

However, if Ganguly is rested, then there could have been chances of another dharna back home over his exclusion, which to an extent have been diminished with Dungarpur’s comments and Pawar backing him. ‘‘This was bound to happen. Let’s pick the positives — it happened right on the first day of the tour and not midway. Now we can just shrug it aside and concentrate on the series,’’ says a member of the Indian team management.

Ganguly, ignoring India’s second day’s play at the Bagh-E-Jinnah, proceeded to the ground adjoining the Gaddaffi Stadium to spend the entire afternoon batting at the nets. Runs are currently the only thing that can save him, but that is only if the others fail to score.