Probably the selectors judgement hurt Laxman: Ganguly

Indian veteran batsman V.V.S. Laxman has drawn curtains on his 16 years illustrious career with immediate effect on Saturday. His immediate retirement means that Laxman will not be playing in the two match test series against New Zealand at home.

In an article in The Times of India, former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly was quoted as saying that the decision is a very bold and by quitting before the start of the upcoming series against New Zealand, he quit on his own terms.

Ganguly further said that it was very uncharitable of the selectors to have picked him for just two Tests against New Zealand, making it look like his farewell series. It simply did not make any sense.

Ganguly was also quoted in the report saying that he heard Laxman in the press conference saying that he found it difficult to reach skipper MS Dhoni which was very unfortunate as the skipper should be available to his players always.

He said that it is quite obvious that Laxman does not enjoy Dhoni’s support.

Meanwhile a report in The Indian Express says that Ganguly believes that VVS Laxman has sent out a 'loud and clear' message to the selectors by deciding to quit international cricket with immediate effect.

"Srikkanth has a big problem in communicating. A player like Laxman would not train so hard just to keep himself fit for two Tests. If they (selectors) conveyed their opinion to Laxman earlier, this situation would not have surfaced. Why they stretched till August? Probably, the selectors' judgment has hurt him (Laxman) the most," Ganguly was quoted in the report.

He also feels that the Srikkanth’s selection policy would be detrimental to Indian cricket’s progress.
"They don't select a team taking the future of Indian cricket into account. They merely do a balancing act by means of removing and adding somebody. Indian cricket will not progress this way,” he added.