Ganguly likely to play for MCC XI

Sourav Ganguly, the Indian captain, has been invited to take part in the tsunami-relief match between the MCC and an International XI at Lord's on Tuesday and has "responded positively". Ganguly, who got into his groove with a smashing 125-ball 142 for Glamorgan against Kent on Friday, has been called to replace Ramnaresh Sarwan, the West Indian middle-order batsman, who had a problem with his travel arrangements.

"I got a call asking if I'm free on June 14 and I responded positively," Ganguly told The Telegraph, a Kolkata-based daily. If he plays, Ganguly will join his Indian collagues, VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble, as part of the star-studded MCC line-up. Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag, the two other Indians taking part in the game, will represent the International XI.

Laxman got a chance to be part of the ocassion owing to Sachin Tendulkar's withdrawal, after his recent elbow surgery. Tendulkar, who was to have captained the MCC team, was ruled out of cricket for close to four months and the MCC side will now be captained by Stephen Fleming.

MCC squad (probable)
Stephen Fleming (capt), Chris Gayle, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Jacques Kallis, Andy Flower, Kumar Sangakkara, Shaun Pollock, Anil Kumble, Muttiah Muralitharan, Shoaib Akhtar.

International XI squad
Virender Sehwag, Sanath Jayasuriya, Graeme Smith, Brian Lara (capt), Rahul Dravid, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chris Cairns, Shane Warne, Chaminda Vaas, Mohammad Sami, Makhaya Ntini.