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Sana a bigger hit than dad Sourav!

April 06, 2003 19:00 IST

It was a function to felicitate the performance of the Indian team and local boy Sourav Ganguly's brilliant captaincy at the World Cup, but guess who stole the show? Ganguly's chubby, year-and-a-half old daughter Sana.

Sana drew the maximum applause -- more than West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee or even her father -- when she stepped on to the dais to receive a gift sponsored by the state government.

Off-stage the kid gave her mother and grandparents a tough time.

She kept pointing towards 'Papa' and met friendly protests while wanting to join Ganguly, who was flanked by Bhattacharjee and Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharya.

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and Board of Control for Cricket in India president Jagmohan Dalmiya were among those who attended the wedding reception of the son of Sunil Gavaskar, Rohan and his childhood sweetheart Swati Mankar at a hotel in Mumbai on Saturday.

Among others who attended the reception were Sachin's wife Dr Anjali, superstar Amitabh Bachchan and wife Jaya, former Davis Cupper Gaurav Natekar, Rohan's uncle and former India captain Gundappa Vishwanath and officials from the Mumbai and Bengal cricket associations.

Rohan, who plays for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, had married Swati, daughter of architect Prakash Mankar, on April 2 in Mumbai.

Australian Cricket Academy head coach Bennett King said on Sunday that he would discuss with his family an offer to coach the West Indies team.

King said he was told on Monday the job was his and the media had been informed, but no official appointment offer had been made and no terms and conditions agreed with him.

He said on Tuesday the board had apologised for prematurely announcing his appointment.

"Any adventure is initially exciting, particularly with up and moving, but I know there will be a lot of trepidation down the track," King said.

"There's a lot of angst, and nervousness bordering on fear."

King is highly regarded in Australia, having guided Queensland to three consecutive Sheffield Shield titles from the 1999-2000 season.