Sourav still a force to reckon with - Mohinder

Kolkata, Sep 16 (UNI) Newly appointed consultant for beleaguered Bengal cricket Mohinder Amaranth believed Sourav Ganguly was still a force to reckon with and ruled out any suggestion of writing him off from the Indian squad.

Amarnath, after formally taking charge as chief consultant for Bengal cricket yesterday, today met Sourav Ganguly at Eden Gardens and discussed about domestic cricket and about his training schedules.

Former all-rounder and chief architech of India historic victory in 1983's World Cup said Sourav was still a major force in Indian cricket and exclusion from Irani Trophy was not an end to him.

He suggested that judging performance in Sri Lanka for selecting Indian squad for home series against Australia should not be a criteran as spin attack between Aussie and Island nation was different.

''In Sri-Lanka, our batsmen failed against quality bowling.

Australia do not have spinners of such quality. Moreover, we will be playing at home. So I do not think it will be fair if the squad against Australia is based on the basis of performance in Sri Lanka,'' Amarnath said in his first interaction with scribes.

When asked about his reaction to Sourav's dropping from Irani Trophy and possible screening from India's Test squad, Amarnath said Ganguly had not been dropped.

He said everyone one knew how former skipper returned time and again suggesting that the Indian sqaud was not yet named implying that the southpaw had not been dropped from home series versus Australia.

An outspoken cricket commentator Amarnath, who was first introduced with Eden Gardens during his boyhood days by his cricketing father Lala Amarnath, said he could not refused when CAB president Jagmohan Dalimiya called him on phone to serve Bengal as consultant.

Bengal cricket suffered a jolt last year when it relegated to Plate from Elite after poor performance in Ranji.

Amarnath said Bengal has talents and there will be not much problem if things went in rightaway.

He also had long deliberation with newly appointed coach and former spinner Utpal Chatterjee.

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