MUMBAI, Jan 1: India’s tour of Pakistan, which starts this week, could decide the future of former captain Saurav Ganguly. Ever since the 33-year-old left-hander was recalled into the test team for the tour, he has been the centre of attention and a target for critics.

Ten days after he was abruptly dropped for the third test against Sri Lanka, Ganguly was chosen ahead of Mohammad Kaif by the selectors who said his experience would be vital in a high-profile series.

Ganguly’s prolonged batting slump is still a concern, however, and it remains to be seen whether the team management will choose him over an in-form Yuvraj Singh in the packed middle-order.

India arrive in Lahore on Thursday and play a three-day warm-up match from Saturday before the three-Test series.

Ganguly’s recall, following a meeting with board president Sharad Pawar, a powerful federal minister, has been seen as a move to give India’s most successful Test captain an opportunity to make an honourable exit.

Ganguly, who led India to their maiden Test series victory on Pakistani soil in 2004, has maintained a stoic silence despite all the speculation about his immediate future.

He got into trouble with the selectors for not heeding instructions to turn out for his home state Bengal in a round of the national championship and will now join the national team after playing the next round from Tuesday to Friday for match practice.

This is the third series between India and Pakistan in less than 24 months and sporting encounters between the two still generate huge interest in both cricket-crazy countries.

On the 2004 tour Ganguly was at the height of his glory but when Pakistan toured India in March last year Ganguly was in a slump.

His loss of batting form affected his leadership, prompting a change of guard as well as his axing, after India had earlier in the season lost their first home series to Australia in 35 years.

In the drawn three-Test series against Pakistan at home, Ganguly scored just 48 runs at an average of 9.60. In four of the six one-day series matches that he played before being banned for slow over rates, he contributed just 31 runs at an average of 7.75.

Inspiring leadership by Inzamamul Haq helped Pakistan to recover from 0-2 down to record four straight victories and win the one-day series 4-2.

Pakistan are on a high after defeating Ashes champions England in both Test and one-day series at home.

There are fears that the Ganguly issue could prove a distraction for the Indian team, who are also going into the series after a successful run.

Under the new management of captain Rahul Dravid and coach Greg Chappell, India defeated Sri Lanka 2-0 in a three-Test series after the first match was washed out, and they have won eight of their last 11 One-day Internationals.—Reuters