Indian cricket

Ganguly not hanging up boots yet

	Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid were not included in India's preliminary list of 30 for the Champions Trophy. Ganguly, however, has ruled out any retirement plans © AFP

Sourav Ganguly has brushed off suggestions of his retirement after being left out of India's preliminary squad of 30 for the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in September.

"I've been out of India's one-day team for the last three months and I am not going to play one-dayers for the next three. So I'm not thinking about ODIs at the moment," Ganguly told reporters in Kolkata. "I'm concentrating on Tests and the upcoming Sri Lanka series.

"I'm still enjoying cricket," he said, "and as long as I do that, I'm not going to hang up my boots."

One of the challenges ahead would be facing Ajantha Mendis, who rattled India's ODI team with figures of 6 for 13 in the Asia Cup final in Karachi. Mendis is also contracted with the Indian Premier League's Kolkata Knight Riders, captained by Ganguly..

"He [Mendis] is an excellent prospect. Has a lot of variety," Ganguly said. "But I have faced him in the nets when he came here to play for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Also, players like Sachin [Tendulkar], Rahul [Dravid], [VVS] Laxman are very good against spin bowling.

"I'm doing some home work to counter his bowling," Ganguly said. "I have special plans for him. We have to read him off the hand. It will be too late if you start picking him off the wicket.

"Watching him on TV, I got the impression that he relies more on change of pace ... his legspinner doesn't turn much." Ganguly also pointed out Sri Lanka had Muttiah Muralitharan in their ranks. "But I think Murali would be a bigger threat. He has variation and pace and can turn the ball a mile. He is in a different league altogether."

On Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision to sit out of the Test series in Sri Lanka, Ganguly said: "It's his personal decision. Being the captain and a wicketkeeper-batsman, Dhoni takes a lot of pressure. So it's natural to feel fatigued. But very few cricketers can afford to take a break.

"I don't remember pulling out of a Test series because of fatigue when I was the captain," he said. "It also depends on your position in the side; I'm sure not many players, with a place in the side not guaranteed, will be able to do that. I know only one player who has been able to do it successfully -- Sachin Tendulkar."

Ganguly, though, played down the IPL factor. "I don't think it opens up the IPL versus country debate." He also disagreed with the view that ODI cricket was on the decline thanks to Twenty20. "I was in England recently. I went to watch a one-dayer between New Zealand and England. It was a full house.

"So I don't think people don't like ODIs anymore. I'm sure when the ODI format returns to India, we'll see the same packed house as it was earlier."

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