Kolkata matches switched to Bangalore, Hyderabad

Heavy rain in Kolkata has forced the Champions League Twenty20 governing council to move the four scheduled matches at Eden Gardens to Hyderabad and Bangalore, subject to approval from the local authorities.

The Group B matches scheduled for September 25 and 27 will now take place in Hyderabad, while the match on September 29 involving Royal Challengers Bangalore and a team from the current qualifier will be played in Bangalore.

"With regret and in the best interests of the tournament, CAB [Cricket Association of Bengal] and CLT20 have reluctantly agreed to moving its four scheduled Group B matches away from Eden Gardens due to the heavy rains that have deluged Kolkata," Jagmohan Dalmiya, the president of CAB, said in a statement.

"We're disappointed that we're not able to host the matches, but this decision was unavoidable and taken out of our hands due to the current weather conditions. We wish CLT20 luck for the tournament and hope CAB will have the chance to host the event in the coming years." © ESPN EMEA Ltd

Ganguly scotches retirement reports

Sourav Ganguly today scotched reports that he has decided to retire from all forms ofcompetitive cricket in the aftermath of IPL franchises shunning him for the fourth edition of the Twenty20 event.

I have already retired from international cricket in2008. If I don''t get to play IPL I will not be participating in any forms of domestic cricket. But if I do get an opportunity to play IPL I will play domestic cricket to stay fit," Ganguly said in a statement, seeking to put an end to the controversy.

He had also clarified his position as soon as he landed at the Kolkata airport.

"From where are you getting this conclusion. You should see the full interview," an irritated Ganguly told reporters.

"It''s only if I don''t get the opportunity to play in IPL.

If I play IPL, I will play other form of cricket," Ganguly explained.

Earlier, Ganguly''s interview to a television channel triggered speculation that the former India captain has retired from all forms of the game.

Asked specifically if he was retiring from all forms of cricket after being ignored by IPL teams, Ganguly said that he had retired from international cricket and there is no possibility of him playing in the IPL this season.

But his remarks were immediately interpreted as retirement from all forms of the game and television channels also got reactions from former cricketers on the development.

Asked specifically by the interviewer whether he has now retired from all forms of cricket, Ganguly said, "No, I don''t think so."

"I have retired as an international professional player two years ago. That part is done. IPL is a hugeplatform. As far as that is concerned I don''t think there is any possibility to play in IPL," he said.

Ganguly, who had retired from international cricket in2008, was not bought by the 10 IPL franchises in the January8-9 IPL auction and the Governing Council later shot down Kochi team''s desire to take him after other franchises objected to it.

Asked if he is not going to play in the Ranji Trophy infuture, he said, "I have not decided as yet."

The last Ranji Trophy match he played for Bengal was against Railways here in December last.

Ganguly said he was surprised at not finding a place in10 IPL teams in which 70 Indians were selected as he was scoring runs in the Twenty20 tournament.

"I had the runs. I scored more than 500 runs last year.

Players of my age such as Adam Gilchrist, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman are still actively involved. Honestly, I don''t know why I was not picked.

"I haven''t been able to put the finger in the button why I was left out. Cricketing logic and past form suggests Ishould have been picked," he said.

You don't have a team in Kolkata without Ganguly: SRK

DURBAN: Kolkata Knight Riders' owner and Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan today said he would try and find a role for Sourav Ganguly in his IPL team after the former India skipper remained unsold.


In pic: KKR former captain Sourav Ganguly (L) and KKR owner Shahrukh Khan

Ganguly, who led KKR in the last edition, was left red-faced as none of the 10 franchisees showed interest in buying him at the two-day auction in Bangalore. "I would love it, I would love Sourav to be an integral part. You don't have a team in Kolkata without him. So, I will speak to Dada when I get back," Shah Rukh said.

The fans of Ganguly yesterday burnt Khan's effigies in Kolkata protesting his exclusion from the team. Shah Rukh refused to speak on why other teams ignored the former India captain. "I don't think I should be commenting on the nine other people. There are 350 to 400 players. There are 10 teams with think-tanks varying in hundred of numbers, the permutations and combinations. I don't think any of us can comment really on who should pick who? I don't think we have the right to do that,"he said.

"Auction is actually a chance like. It is very difficult to be completely confirmed on what you do in the auction. So things go wrong, kind of money you have, which players come first, so lots of decisions have to be made," he added. -PTI