Ganguly hopes dropped veterans will be back in Indian team

Kolkata - Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly Saturday hoped that Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan would be able to make a comeback to the Indian team in future despite being left out of the list of probables for upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.

“We have to wait and see, that doesn’t stop them from coming back. Let’s not jump the gun, they are good players and good things will eventually happen,” Ganguly said when asked whether the selectors were right in dropping such senior pros.

Sehwag, an explosive opener, paid the price for indifferent form earlier when he was not considered for the home series against England as also the last two Test matches against Australia.

Offie Harbajan’s bowling has also looked venomless in recent times. He last played an ODI in June 2011 and appears to be past his prime. The off-spinner also did not play besides not being considered for the last two Tests at home opposite Australia.

Zaheer Khan, for years the Indian seam attack spearhead, had sustained a calf injury in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy outing against Gujarat laast year and lost his place in the England series as also the engagements against Australia.

Ganguly, however, said the troika should not be written off.

“I don’t think so, they are writing them off, because it has happened in the past, players have come back and played, all they got to do is keep performing, and hopefully they will be back,” he said, to queries whether the team management had written off the three veterans.

Ganguly expressed happiness over four Bengal players – Manoj Tiwary, Wriddhiman Saha, Ashok Dinda and Mohammed Shami – finding slots in the list of probables for the event scheduled to be played in England June 6-23.

“It’s good news, the four have played for India before, so they are supposed to be in the squad,” he said.

The retired left hander said Laxmi Ratan Shukla, who has not found a place in the probables’ list, should keep on performing without losing heart.

“Selection is an issue which will always be debatable, but I wish Laxmi well, no point brooding, that is past. He needs to keep on performing, and hopefully will be picked in the future,” he said.