The Eden Gardens ODI is scheduled for Nov 25. The Test team against Sri Lanka was to be decided on Nov 28. But that has been advanced. Why? Because former India skipper & local hero Saurav Ganguly is not going to play as he is dropped since the last series against Lanka.



It provoked a mass outrage in Kolkata and right from ministers to MPs to the common man has called for a total boycott of the Nov 25 match. This is bad news for BCCI. Eden Gardens with a seating capacity of over one hundred thousand in the sports crazy city brings in loads of revenues to it. Besides, if people boycott the game, revenues from advertisement would be lost too. Also, protests and picketing might go out of hand and arranging for security would become impossible to pacify hundreds of thousands of protestors led by political figures. The match itself might have to be called off altogether.



Now the BCCI is hoping that by advancing the date of declaring the Test team for Sri Lanka with Ganguly’s name on it, it can do some damage control and give the Kolkata public a reason to be happy so that they don’t boycott the match. However, one can’t be too sure about what will turn on Nov 25 as Ganguly won’t be playing in the match.



Given Ganguly’s record as a One Day player (which is second only to Tendulkar in the world) and a captain (who has been the most successful Indian skipper ever), he was unjustifiably dropped from the side even after scoring a brilliant century in Duleep Trophy after coming out from an elbow injury. The Kolkatans have very valid reasons to be infuriated for their local hero being given a raw deal. We can only wait and watch how the events turn out on Nov 25.



News Source : Rediff.com