Ganguly not to attend Delhi meeting

Indian captain Sourav Ganguly is unlikely to attend the meeting called by Sports Minister SS Dhindsa on April 27 in New Delhi since the meeting falls on the second day of Lancashire's opening County Championship game against Kent. The meeting has been called by Dhindsa in view of the match fixing and betting scandal.

Apart from the Indian captain, team coach Kapil Dev and former captains Mohammed Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar are among the others who are expected to attend the meeting.

Speaking to an Indian newspaper from Manchester, Ganguly said ``the invitation came from the board and I then reverted back explaining my position. Yesterday, the board informed me that I will be excused. I didn't directly interact with the Sports Ministry.''

Ganguly is on his first assignment in the English county season with Lancashire, who incidentally, have had a mixed start to the season. They have won two and lost two of the Benson and Hedges Cup matches. Ganguly also has had only moderate success. He has excelled in one match - against Durham, where he was adjudged the Man of the Match. Ganguly said ``It's been very cold and the wickets have invariably been damp. But it's all part of the learning process and I've actually been enjoying myself.''

Incidentally, the Lancashire-Kent match will feature both Ganguly and Rahul Dravid on opposite sides.

On Steve Waugh's comments on the pressures involved in the Indian captaincy, Ganguly said ``No assignment is easy. However, as long as the enjoyment is there, the expectations won't ever become a burden.''