Ganguly eyeing 100 on Bangladesh tour

After consistently hitting half centuries since his comeback, Sourav Ganguly today said he would try to convert his fifties into hundreds if he got a chance in the two-Test cricket series against Bangladesh.

"I was the highest run getter in Tests in South Africa recently. The good thing is I have been consistent. Here if I get to the eighties I will surely try to convert them into 100s," Ganguly told reporters after the nets.

Asked how he was feeling on his "comeback", Ganguly said "I don't think of it as a comeback. We [Sachin Tendulkar and he] were not dropped, but officially rested. This also gave a few youngsters to perform."

Ganguly said he had no preferences for batting order or bowling during the Test. "I always work hard at the nets. It's the decision of the team and what the situation demanded," he said when asked if he would bowl in the Test. About opening the innings, he said "that is again up to the team management. If they deem fit I'm game."

On his huge popularity in Bangladesh, Ganguly said "I don't consider Bangladesh as a different country. I captained in my first Test here. So, Bangladesh will always be special."

At nets Ganguly looked a picture of concentration when Rudra Pratap Singh, Romesh Pawar and three local bowlers bowled at him. Initially, he looked a bit tentative, but later his form returned. He also stepped out a few times to lift the spinners. Cricket Manager Ravi Shastri stood all along watching Ganguly. At first, he stood at the umpire's position and then watched him from the point region. Ganguly also bowled at the nets to Wasim Jaffer and Sachin Tendulkar.

Ganguly also vehemently denied that he was linked with the breakaway Indian Cricket League and also lashed at the media for being irresponsible with their reporting. "It's not true. I think there are too many stories going around in Indian cricket," said Ganguly. "Anybody speaks anything and that's getting printed. The time has come to clarify things because this is not good for the individual as well as the team. I have not had any discussion with anyone, nor am I willing to have any discussions."