'Is our team bad? I do not think so', says Ganguly

The captain of the Indian cricket team, Sourav Ganguly has stated that inspite of all the controversies surrounding cricket, the Indian team has the capacity to do well at the Asia Cup Tournament at Dhaka. In an interview over the phone from Durham to the vernacular daily Ananda Bazaar Patrika, Ganguly has said, "Is our team bad ? I do not think so. We have all played at Dhaka before and we are acclimatized with the conditions there. I do not want to comment on what is happening outside the cricket field. But we will go to Dhaka with the intention of winning the tournament." The Indian team takes on Bangladesh on May 30 in the four-nation tournament.

Ganguly has also stated that he is a bit agitated at the way things are being placed in his mouth. "I am far away from India. So how can I comment on what is happening there. I have not passed any remark that the team will be under pressure because of allegations against our coach. I will call him up and clear up the entire matter. Otherwise, as the coach of the team he may make a different meaning out of this statement. I will reach Pune on May 21. Before that I will clear up the entire issue with him. I do not want him to misunderstand me."

Ganguly was referring to his interview to a cricket web site early this week after his innings of 73 against Durham, where he had stated that every member of the Indian team and the coach felt the pressure of these allegations. He had said "I know every member of the national side is thinking on the same lines. And to assist us, let there be a full stop to these immature comments and baseless allegations. These not only affect the alleged cricketer, but also the national team. It's bad for the credibility of the game too."