Ganguly to miss Deodhar Trophy opener

Dumped from the Indian Test team, former captain Sourav Ganguly on Friday decided to skip East Zone's Deodhar Trophy opener to be played in Kolkata.

Cricket Association of Bengal joint secretary Sharadindu Pal said that he has asked Ganguly to send him a written communication on this.

"Ganguly called me up and told that he does not want to play East Zone's tournament opener against South Zone. I told him to give it to me in black and white. He has promised to send me a fax by this afternoon," Pal said.

The CAB office-bearer said he did not press Ganguly to play the match "as he must be having personal reasons. Ganguly would, however, take part in the remaining matches of the tournament," he said.

Ganguly was not picked in the team announced on Thursday for the first Test against England beginning at Nagpur on March 1.