Sourav Ganguly may have been India's most successful captain and back in the side with solid performance in domestic cricket, but coach Greg Chappell today made it clear that the southpaw should not expect any favour when the final XI is picked for the first Test beginning in Lahore on Friday.
Talking to reporters, Chappell did not mince words and said, ''We have to pick the best team and if he is there in the side, he is and if he is in the reserve bench, he is in the reserve bench. Whether he was captain before or not makes no difference,'' Chappell said.
''He wants to keep playing for India... he has put in some good performances in domestic cricket also but at the end of the day we have to pick the best team and it would be based on cricket reasons,'' Chappell added.
Captain Rahul Dravid also evaded question whether Ganguly would get a look-in for the first Test.
''We haven't thought yet about the playing XI. At present all the team members are for selection. We would wait till we see the wicket and then decide on the matter,'' Dravid said.
