Ganguly quashes retirement talk

Sourav Ganguly flies home to India today at the end of a disappointing Test tour of Pakistan, but insists he has no plans to retire, despite the unsavoury selection controversies that have pushed his career to the brink.

Ganguly, who was last year replaced as India's captain by Rahul Dravid, was not selected for the one-dayers and played in only one of the three Tests - the 341-run defeat in the series-decider at Karachi. But in an interview with a TV channel prior to his departure he insisted: "I am playing well at the moment and I will continue to play."

Ganguly denied reports that he was becoming increasingly isolated in the dressing-room that he used to command, "These are mere speculations. I had a good time in the dressing-room. All the boys have played under me, so there is no problem." He added that he would be willing to open the innings if the team management so desired.

"Of course, I have been asked to open before and I have agreed here [in Pakistan] and in the future too," he said, after being selected ahead of the two specialist openers, Gautam Gambhir and Wasim Jaffer. "I have no problems opening the innings."

In his one outing at Karachi, Ganguly was a qualified success in a disappointing display from India's batsmen, scoring 34 and 37 and featuring in two century partnerships. "I thought I batted pretty well," he said, "though I am disappointed that I got out at a crucial point in the match. We had made a 100-run partnership and my wicket could have made a big difference."