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Rediff.com  » Sports » Ganguly maintains silence

Ganguly maintains silence

Source: PTI
September 16, 2005 21:14 IST
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India captain Sourav Ganguly refused to give an assurance that the turmoil of the last few days is behind him and a mending of the relationship between him and coach Greg Chappell is underway.

"Only time will tell. It's not right for me to make a statement now," he said, after his side secured an innings and 90-run victory over Zimbabwe in the first Test in Bulawayo on Friday.

Ganguly had on Thursday caused a storm in Indian cricket circles by acknowledging that there was pressure on him to step down from captaincy on the eve of the Test.

Chappell though took a statesman-like stance on the issue and said if the team focuses on success, a lot of these issues would not matter.

"Things come up from time to time and people get frustrated. They say things which probably they don't really mean and are not as important as they are made out to be. I think if we keep looking at success a lot of these issues would fade away."

Chappell said he is only interested in following the right process.

"There are some things which you can't control. We can only concentrate on what we are doing.

"I have been through this before. There is always going to be something bubbling around the place. We can't get worried about it or get involved in it."

Chappell said Zimbabwe were down a bit and his side needs to keep on working on the right process to take on bigger teams down the season.

Ganguly said the long-awaited hundred in the first Test has given him a new confidence for the second Test, starting in Harare next Tuesday.

"It felt good to be back among runs. I will be more confident in Harare," he added.

The longest-serving Indian captain reiterated that rediscovering the form of his side was more important than securing a rare series win abroad in Zimbabwe.

"More than the series win, how we have played Test cricket in the last four days is more important to me," said Ganguly.

He also chose the occasion to back Zimbabwe and supported their presence in the Test arena.

"It was a good side a couple of years ago. They are down a bit but then there have been a few sides who have slipped in the past. Zimbabwe can be up again and they require the opportunity.

"Their batting has gone down a bit but their bowling remains almost same. But of course the absence of Flower brothers is telling on their batting."

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