By IANS
Kolkata : Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has zeroed in on seven international players for the Kolkata team that he will be leading in the Twent20 tournament of the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting April 18.
After a teleconference with Kolkata franchise owner Shah Rukh Khan Monday evening, Ganguly seemed ready to build the dream team and also for the player’s auction slated for Feb 20.
“I would always like to have players like Gili (Adam Gilchrist), Jaques Kallis, Mathew Hayden, Shaun Pollock, Brett Lee, Shahid Afridi and Yousuf Youhanna on my side,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by a private television channel.
Shah Rukh seems to have given Ganguly a free hand in forming the team and designated him as the captain, though a formal announcement is expected after Feb 20.
Asked how it felt to lead a side again, Ganguly said: “I have got that feeling.”
Ganguly also met the officials of Red Chillies Entertainment, Shah Rukh’s company, which won the franchise for the Kolkata team. The officials came to the Eden Gardens for a reconnaissance and seemed satisfied after their inspection Monday.
Gilchrist had always been on Ganguly’s wish list. On other six players, Ganguly said: “Obviously when one makes the team he wants to pick the best side. I am no exception.”
The former captain also seemed to be excited at the prospect of the tournament and said: “I am really excited about the IPL. I have played it during the county stint. I am looking forward to the new challenge.”
The name and jersey of the Kolkata team is yet to be decided. Usha Utthup will sing the theme song.
Amidst the excitement of IPL’s inaugural tournament, Ganguly also revealed that he was disappointed at being left out of the one-day squad for the ongoing triangular series in Australia.
“Yes, it is disappointing. But I have reconciled to the fact. The selectors know best which team to pick. I hope to score some more runs and perhaps the performance will guide them,” he said.
Asked whether his lack of athleticism on the field was a reason behind his exclusion, Ganguly said: “That is not fair for me to point out. I am a senior cricketer and have a responsibility towards the game. I wish (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni and his team all the best. We have matches coming and they are tough.
“I will get a lot of chance to prove myself too. Perhaps I scored the maximum runs last year with both forms of cricket combined. We have quite a few Test series this year and hope to carry on with the good form.”