What's eating Ravi Shastri?

Ravi Shastri is not a happy man. Sourav Ganguly’s inclusion in the side has left him stunned, though he doesn’t believe there would have been any pressure from Sharad Pawar, the board chief. However, he sees the weak hand of the Indian think-tank. "… that's the team management's decision. If you ask me for my choice, he would not have fitted into my XI. I think it's a weak decision. I think it’s short sighted and if you are looking into the future of Indian cricket, I don't think this is a wise decision as well. Because, if he is going to open the innings, what have you taken three specialist openers there for?

"If Sourav Ganguly should have played in the side, he should have replaced Tendulkar, Dravid, Yuvraj Singh or Laxman. Tell me who will you drop amongst these?"

Strong words… but time here for an old trivial story. When Ganguly made his Test debut against England in 1996, Shastri had fumed at the selection, hinting at zonal politics. Ganguly went on to have a bumper series then. Can he repeat the act?