Ganguly can always come back: Pawar

Board of Control for Cricket in India president Sharad Pawar batted for chairman of selectors Kiran More on Wednesday, saying the former India stumper had never said that the doors are shut for Sourav Ganguly.

Talking to rediff.com in Mohali, Pawar said raking up the Ganguly controversy time and again is not good for Indian cricket.

"I have checked with Kiran More and he denied having made the statement regarding Sourav Ganguly to the media."

In reply to a question on Ganguly's chances of staging a comeback to the Indian team, More had said: 'I am sticking to what I said in Baroda about Ganguly. We are looking forward and there's no question of looking back on the issue.'

Pawar instead lauded the contribution of the former Indian captain and said nobody has the right to say that the doors for Ganguly are closed forever.

"He was a great captain, a batsman of tremendous calibre who led the country with distinction. He is out of the team today but he can always come back in the team after working hard on his game," Pawar said.

Asked if he is happy with the team's performance, he replied, "The young Indian side under Rahul Dravid is doing very well and there is no reason to complain about anything."

He denied that the BCCI is looking for a chief executive.

"We had Tata Consultancy to give us a comprehensive report on how to run an organisation like the BCCI and the report given by them has been accepted by the working committee in toto. We have left it to them to appoint eight to ten different managers who would look after the different departments of the game and report to the Board."

Earlier, Pawar inaugurated an indoor stadium where cricketers would be able to practice during bad weather. The practice stadium is located next to the Mohali cricket ground and was raised in less than two months.

Among those present for the launch were former India captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and his wife Sharmila Tagore, ace 400 metres champion of yesteryear Milkha Singh, legendary cricketer Geoffery Boycott, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virendra Sehwag.

Boycott and Sehwag interacted for quite a while. The former England opener was critical about the media.

"Some journalists ask stupid questions and make unnecessary comments. If a player gets out on zero they start running him down and if he makes a hundred then they praise him sky high. My advise to you is just play your own game and if you have a problem then ask someone who can guide you better," he told Sehwag.

Indian team coach Greg Chappell too was present but avoided contact with the Indian media.

"I am not saying anything," he told this correspondent. "I know you have never misquoted me, but because of some others you may have to suffer as well," he added.