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Journalism of Courage
They sacked him, he came back. Then, he showed the way through three difficult Tests against South Africa, held his own against Sri Lanka and the West Indies at home, topscored for India in the World Cup. And they still sacked him.
Now, just two months short of his 35th birthday, 91 Tests and 289 ODIs behind him, Sourav Ganguly is back in the Indian team for the Test series against Bangladesh starting Friday, still fighting to save his place, his reputation.
To start with, he is sure that he will return to the one-day side after being forcefully “rested” for the series against Bangladesh. And no, he has not been signed with up the new breakaway cricket league, as has been alleged.
“When you don’t play in any form of cricket, you definitely miss it. But that’s the way it is¿ It was just three one-dayers against Bangladesh, and we were informed about it. They were looking to give youngsters an opportunity. I am sure my turn will come,” Ganguly told reporters here.
“We were told that we were being rested. I will just take it one series at a time, play this well, and I am sure I will get my opportunity,” he added.
Then, asked to react on the Zee league, he waded into the media, and their “sources.”
“It’s not true. I think there are too many stories going around in Indian cricket. Anybody speaks anything and that’s getting printed. The time has come to clarify things because this is not good for the individual as well as the team. I have not had any discussion with anyone, nor am I willing to have any discussion,” he said.
“I know there is competition for news but I think we have to become responsible at some stage. And the time has come for everyone, it is a request, to clarify things before going to print because there are a lot of lies going around,” said Ganguly.
Well, what about the post-World Cup controversies? “See, I have played for 12 years, I have got used to all this. Like I said, the time has come to clarify things. There should be some thought for the other person also. They are just one phone call away, and it is not fair to print just one side of the story,” he said.
Then, a Bangladeshi journalist stepped in to lighten the mood: how does it feel to be so popular on foreign soil? Ganguly replied with a smile: “I don’t think this is foreign for any of us. It’s pretty much like India. I enjoy coming to Bangladesh, and I have been here a number of times, from under-19 to India A to India. This is where I captained my first Test match, this is special.”
And finally, is there a century waiting around the corner? “At least, I am consistent,” he replied caustically, before adding, “I am getting runs every game. Next time, if I get to 80s and 90s, I will convert that into a 100.”
