CPM wants me back in Team India, not in politics: Sourav Ganguly

Lucknow, Mar 18 (UNI) Though regaining his place in Team India tops Sourav Ganguly's agenda, the former cricket captain did not rule out joining politics at some point of his career.

Interacting with UNI on the eve of Bengal's Ranji Trophy one day semifinal match against Railways, Ganguly reiterated he won't be campaigning for CPI(M) in the West Bengal assembly elections and according to the Bengal southpaw, the party wanted him back in Team India and not in the election campaign.

''The party wants me in the national team and not in political arena,'' he said.

Ganguly admitted he shares a personal rapport with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and the CPI(M) but said the ruling party does not want him to hit campaign trail in upcoming polls.

Instead, they would like to see him back to where he belonged, Team India, he asserted.

''CPI(M) is strong enough to win any election on its own and they don't require any Sourav Ganguly to see them through in the poll,'' he said.

''Be it CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya or any other CPI(M) leader, they all want me back in the Indian team, rather than soliciting votes in the electoral arena,'' Ganguly added.

Asked whether he himself aspired contesting elections owing to his unmatched popularity across the Eastern state, Ganguly said with an impish smile ''Cricket comes before everything else. I would think about politics later on.'' Ganguly, however, evaded a direct answer on his chances of returning to the Greg Chapell-guided team and also refused to comment on the performance of the Men in Blue.

'' Everything is fine as long as you keep winning, '' he said.

When asked how he felt after some good shows in the domestic circuit, India's most successful skipper said, ''I do not need to prove myself in the domestic circuit.'' UNI ARS NAB AY KN1418