A smile and a thumbs-up: Ganguly

Kolkata, Feb 23 (UNI) A quiet thumbs-up was proof of the idomitable spirit of the former Team India skipper Sourav Ganguly even after being ignored for the first Test against England.

He was coming out of a function when the mediamen thronged with the question of what the Maharaj had to say about his exclusion hanging about their faces.

Ganguly did not answer but a smile and a thumbs-up said it all.

Earlier, in the evening when the fate of one of the most successful skipper's in the sub-continent was being decided by the selectors, the man himself was receiving the award of ''Sreshtho Bangali'' from ETv at a glittering function.

He said, ''I am honoured to be felicitated with this award. I will try to live up to the expectations to the best of my abilities.'' ''I will be very happy if any other cricketer wins this award in future,'' he added.

In the morning, Ganguly spent time at the Eden Gardens practicing and training.

Ever since the new cricket regime has taken over, Ganguly has become the centre of controversy and not in the scheme of things with the motto being ''looking ahead''.

UNI BA VD HS2210