Ganguly's retirement plan premature : Gaekwad

Vadodara, Oct 7 (UNI) Former India captain and coach Ansukan Gaekwad feels that the decision of Saurav Ganguly to take retirement from first class cricket after the upcoming Test series against Australia is ''little pre-mature.'' Describing Ganguly as the most successful captain in India's cricketing history and one of the great batsmen the country had ever produced, Gaekwad said he was shocked over the batsman's sudden decision on the eve of the most important Test series.

Ganguly could have played many more series if he performs well against the Aussies, Gaekwad told UNI over phone from Mumbai.

However, former India wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia and former BCCI secretary J Y Lele welcomed Ganguly's decision hoping that the former skipper, who was struggling to make a comeback in team India for the last one-and-a-half years, would perform well in the series for a graceful exit.

Mongia said it was absolutely a good and right decision on the part of Ganguly as a batsman of his calibre should not be under scanner for selection in the Indian squad. Even as he was picked up in the Indian squad for the first two Tests against Australia, this decision was expected from him any moment.

''If he does well in the series, he will go on a very positive note,'' Mongia said.

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