I will miss Sachin, others: Ganguly

Kolkata, Nov 11 (IANS) Having retired from international cricket, former captain Sourav Ganguly Tuesday said he would miss his colleagues like Sachin Tendulkar in the Indian team, but would root for them whenever he watched them on television.

'I will watch them on television. I will root for them,' Ganguly told reporters at his residence, when asked how he would be in touch with other players in the team, particularly those he had groomed for the big league.

Asked about Tendulkar, with whom he formed one of the all-time best opening combinations in one-day cricket, Ganguly replied: 'Sachin was very close to me. Lot of other boys in the team were also close. I will miss their company.'

Ganguly rated his debut Test, the experience of captaining India for the first time and his last Test at Nagpur, which ended Monday, as the three best moments of his glittering career.

Ganguly said he was now looking forward to some rest before deciding his future. 'I have to wait and see how things unfold. Haven't decided yet. There are lot of opportunities before me. I have to look forward,' he said at the media meet, a couple of hours after returning to his city following his retirement.

He appeared pragmatic when asked if it felt bad to be called a former cricketer. 'This day was bound to come one day. Maradona, Pelle, Gavaskar, they all had to retire. One day, Tendulkar will also retire. This is part of sports.'

On the celebrations Monday after the series win against Australia at Nagpur, he said: 'Oh! It was geat fun. It was fantastic. It was a night to remember for all of us.'
Ganguly said the retirement of the seniors would provide an opportunity for the youngsters to take Indian cricket forward.

Earlier, hundreds of fans mobbed Ganguly when he returned to the city.

Bouquets in hand, the cricket buffs shouted slogans eulogising the former Indian captain and constantly cheered 'Dada', 'Dada' - as Ganguly is lovingly known.

They held aloft the tricolour, Ganguly's photographs and waved posters thanking him for his contribution to the game, the country and West Bengal.

Ganguly, who arrived at the N.S.C. Bose International Airport in the evening, was received by Municipal Affairs Minister Ashok Bhattacharya and Cricket Association of Bengal joint secretaries Biswarup Dey and Arun Mitra
Posted by

Anbu.

We're happy if we don't see Gambhir in Nagpur: Aus

Australian batsman michael hussey on Tuesday doffed his hat at in-form gautam Gambhir and had no hesitation in admitting that the visitors would be happy if the banned left-hander is not allowed to play the fourth and final Test match starting in Nagpur on Thursday.
Gambhir was handed a one Test ban for elbowing Shane Watson but the Indian opening batsman decided to appeal against the punishment.
According to International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations, Gambhir can play pending the hearing of his appeal by Justice Albie Sach but Hussey and his teammates are hoping that the left-hander would eventually miss the match.
"We're sort of hoping he'll miss the last Test but I think he'll still play pending his appeal," Hussey said.
"A process has been set in motion but if he is unable to play, it will certainly help us," he added.
Hussey likened Gambhir to Australia's retired opener Justin Langer and said the Delhi batsman hurt them most.
"He reminds me a lot of Justin Langer, small and punchy little character but knows his game very well, lets the ball come onto the bat, glides it through the offside well and works it off his pads. He's a very good player and probably someone who's exceeded our expectations about how well he's played," Hussey said of Gambhir, who is the leading run scorer in the series so far.
Hussey, however, felt that Gambhir was itching to pick up a fight with any of the Australian players to get into a fighting mindset.
"He looks around for it (chat) to be honest. It hasn't been a plan of ours to go at him and talk or whatever. But he does go around the field looking to engage certain players and looking to get involved and that sort of thing," Hussey said.
"So maybe that is part of his character, looking for a clash to try to pump himself up a bit more. He's always looking to engage, not so much 'good day how are you going', but an intense look and it's quite funny really," Hussey said.
The Australians, meanwhile, were upset after they could not train in the ground where the Test match will be played and Hussey did not hide his disappointment.
"I am someone who likes to get into the ground as early as possible, get gear set-up and all that sort of stuff, go out in the middle and have a look around because there are lots of distractions, every ground is different, so it's nice to become accustomed with those before you head out to play," he said.

Posted by

Anbu.

Tendulkar gets threat from JeM, security tightened

Jaish-e-Mohammad, a terrorist organisation active in Jammu and Kashmir, has reportedly threatened to kidnap Sachin Tendulkar.
Following the threat Tendulkar's security has been tightened.
Tendulkar is currently in Nagpur with the Indian team for the fourth and final Test match against Australia.
The Nagpur Test begins on November 6. India already lead the series 1-0 winning the second Test by 320 runs at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali.
"There is information of threat to Sachin from Jaish-e-Mohammad. We will, provode extra security now. He also faces threat of kidnapping from the terror outfit," Nagpur Commissioner Naveen Dixit said.
Nagpur Joint Commissioner of Police BJ Kangale assured special security for Tendulkar.
"There is no new threat on Sachin's life. We are taking all precautionary measures," Kangale said.
Security has also been beefed up at the old stadium of the Vidarbha Cricket Association at Civil Lines, where the two teams will have net sessions for the next two days.
The match will be played at the new stadium in Jamtha, about 16 kms from Nagpur.

posted by

Anbu.