Ganguly Retained As India Captain

Saurav Ganguly has been retained as India's captain for the Test and one-day home series against Zimbabwe starting next week, despite his poor batting form.

"Saurav Ganguly has been selected as captain only for the Zimbabwe series, both for the Tests and one-dayers," announced Niranjan Shah, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Chairman of selectors Chandu Borde said Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble had also been considered for the post but the selectors unanimously decided in Ganguly's favour. The rest of the Indian team will be picked in New Delhi on February 17.

Ganguly scored just 68 runs at an average of 22.66 in his team's 1-0 win over England in the three-test series last December. His form has been lacklustre since early last year, with Borde admitting it was a concern.

"I wasn't very happy with his form," he said. "He was struggling definitely but we gave him a chance and he performed well in the last two one-day matches. So he's coming back I think."

Ganguly struck fifties in the last two games of the six-match one-day series but India lost both of them as England emerged with a creditable 3-3 draw.

"We won the Test series against England and we have drawn the one-day series. That is one of the reasons for selecting Ganguly," Borde said.

The former Test cricketer said he was not very happy with the team's performance over the winter.

"Frankly, I was not very happy. We should have won comfortably but credit must be given to the England team. They also fought well."

Borde said batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who has had two stints as Indian skipper, had not been considered since he was "rumoured" to be not interested since refusing the job in 1999.

"I don't think he is interested. I have not approached him but I have heard - there is a rumour - he is not interested," he said.

"Last time we asked him, he refused," Shah added.

India had beaten Zimbabwe 1-0 in a two-Test series at home in late 2000 but had only managed to draw a Test series 1-1 in Zimbabwe last year.