Ganguly passed fit to play Duleep Trophy

Sourav Ganguly has been declared fit to take part in East Zone's Duleep Trophy match against North Zone, to be played at Rajkot from October 20-24. Ganguly, who recently lost the captaincy of the one-day team, and was ruled out of the first two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka, was suffering from a mild tennis elbow. He was passed fit after being examined by John Gloster, the physiotherapist of the team, and Dr. Anant Joshi, the board-appointed sports medicine expert. The two examined Ganguly at a suburban hotel in Mumbai on Tuesday evening, and the board released a statement saying Ganguly was fit.

"Dr. Anant Joshi and John Gloster re-evaluated Sourav's elbow and were of the opinion that he has improved enough to participate in the Duleep Trophy match starting on 20th October 2005. Participation in this match will give a better overall picture as to the status of his recovery," said Professor Ratnakar Shetty, executive secretary of the board. Neither Ganguly nor Gloster was available for comment soon after this statement was delivered by Shetty.

Ganguly was first advised rest for 10 days on October 7, when he was examined by Joshi and Gloster. His being passed on Tuesday means that he will lead East Zone in their opening match of the Duleep Trophy. Ganguly had already made a foray into the nets, in his academy back home in Kolkata, on Monday, and batted for an extended period against Sourashish Lahiri and Murtaza Lodhgar, the Bengal spinners, and Shiv Shankar Rao, the Jharkand mediumpacer. He also spent some time bowling.

The Indian squad for the first two one-dayers against Sri Lanka, to be played on October 25 and 28, was selected on October 13, and Ganguly was left out. A strong performance in the Duleep Trophy match, where the selectors will be watching his fitness more closely than his form, could pave the way for his return to the Indian team for the remaining matches in the series. The selectors are scheduled to meet again on October 28 in Mohali to pick the squad for the next two matches.