November 30, 2006	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 8, 1427

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MUMBAI, Nov 29: Former India captain Saurav Ganguly is likely to be recalled for next month's Test series in South Africa when the selection committee meets in New Delhi on Thursday.

The move has been prompted by uncertainty over skipper Rahul Dravid's fitness for the opening test in Johannesburg (Dec. 15-19) due to a finger injury and a string of poor batting displays by the team in one-day cricket.

Ganguly's return is expected to bolster the side's brittle middle-order, especially after left-hander Yuvraj Singh had been ruled out of the three-test series with a knee injury.

The side has come under intense pressure following two crushing defeats in the five-match one-day series in South Africa after the opening match was washed out. The fourth one-dayer is scheduled to be played at Port Elizabeth later on Wednesday.

“Ganguly's name will surely be discussed,” selector Ranjib Biswal told Reuters on Wednesday. “But to say rightaway he will be picked would be speculation,” Biswal added.

The committee was to originally meet in Mumbai, but the venue was shifted to the capital at the request of board president and federal minister Sharad Pawar who wanted to speak to the selectors.

Dilip Vengsarkar had said after taking over as chairman of selectors two months ago that he was open to the idea of Ganguly's comeback provided he proves form and fitness in domestic cricket.

Ganguly was sacked as skipper and one-day player last October and dropped from the Test squad in February after a long batting slump and a row with coach Greg Chappell.

But the 34-year-old left-hander, who has scored 5,221 Test and 10,123 one-day runs, scored a century and bowled incisively in domestic cricket this season that has triggered a public demand for his recall.

The Bengal captain, who had a spell with English country Northamptonshire this year, is also harbouring hopes of playing his third World Cup in the Caribbean next year.—Reuters