Sourav Ganguly fires 'threat' to Sachin Tendulkar
Sourav Ganguly has fired a threat to former India opening partner Sachin Tendulkar – that he will leave Sachin’s team in the All-Stars League and take the first flight back home to Kolkata if he is not allowed to open the innings, report IANS.
Sourav is part of Sachin’s Blasters, the team that is to take on Warne’s Warriors in a series of three T20 matches in the USA starting from Saturday, 7th November. A Sachin-Sourav opening partnership would be the realisation of a dream for many, but this team also has hard-hitting Australian opener Matthew Hayden.
After a 30-minute training session that the left-handed batting legend undertook at nets on Tuesday to prepare for the event, he was in a jovial mood.
Ganguly said, "I have told Sachin, if I don't open, I will catch the next flight to Kolkata. So that is a criteria for playing.”
He, however, disagreed vigorously when it was pointed out that his balance and timing was still exquisite when stepping out of the crease to spinners, or when leaning into his trademark cover drives.
"It is not possible," he said. "I was picking the ball late. But it was fun."
EXCLUSIVE Video : Sourav Ganguly Kickstarts Preparations for @T20AllStars T20. Speaks to @BoriaMajumdar. pic.twitter.com/z8ES649WsW
— SouravGangulyCo (@SouravGangulyCo) November 3, 2015
Team composition of Sachin’s Blasters
Batsmen – Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Matthew Hayden, Mahela Jayawardene, Jacques Kallis, Jonty Rhodes, VVS Laxman
Wicketkeeper – Kumar Sangakkara
Bowlers – Shaun Pollock, Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Lance Klusener, Ajit Agarkar, Graeme Swann
The matches are scheduled to be played at some of the most iconic baseball stadiums in USA. The first game will be played at the Citi Field in New York which is the home ground for the New York Mets. The retired superstars will then move to Los Angeles to play a match at the Dodgers stadium. The final game will take place at Texas.