Ganguly denies critical remarks

In a statement issued today, the former Indian skipper said the reports of an interview from a Bengali daily published in various newspapers are false.

Sourav Ganguly chose to play down the controversy raked by an interview in a Bengali daily in which he had lashed out at the Dilip Vengsarkar-chaired selection committee and questioned the selection of other players, who had been struggling for runs over the last two seasons.

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Subsequently, Vengsarkar had reacted to the statement saying that he would answer Ganguly's tirade after the four-match Test series against Australia.

In a statement issued on Saturday morning, the former Indian skipper said: "The reports of an interview from a Bengali daily published in various newspapers are false. I have not given any interview of that sort to anyone. I would request you to clarify with me before publishing news from other sources."

Ganguly had reportedly told a vernacular daily that he was being made a "sacrificial goat" and there was no point continuing with the game if he was treated in such a manner while some of the other players went scot-free.

The 36-year-old's outburst had reportedly vitiated the atmosphere in the dressing room, as he had apparently trained his ire on Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has been held responsible for ridding the national team of its ageing stars.