Sourav to fight for place in team, not for CPI-M

The former captain has dismissed any likelihood of campaigning for the CPI-M during the forthcoming assembly elections in West Bengal.

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly Friday dismissed any likelihood of campaigning for the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) during the forthcoming assembly elections in West Bengal.

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"All I want to make clear is that I am not campaigning for anybody," Ganguly told a hurriedly called press conference hours after some reports quoted party's central leader Sitaram Yechuri in New Delhi saying that the beleaguered cricketer would campaign for them.

"Ganguly will bat for us," Yechuri reportedly told reporters earlier on Friday.

"My sole aim is now to concentrate on the game and make a comeback to the national squad," Ganguly said at his Behala residence in south Kolkata.

"I have outstanding personal relations with CPI-M leaders like Yechuri, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee and state minister Ashok Bhattacharya.

"I respect them all but now I want to make a comeback to the national team by playing domestic cricket. I am sure all these leaders also want me to play well and return to the Indian team," he said.

Ganguly said he has no plans to join politics directly or indirectly and had never discussed the issue with any communist leader.

Asked about future possibility of joining the party, he said, "Let's talk about the present."

Ganguly recently fuelled speculation about joining CPI-M by participating in three foundation-laying events of the party in north Bengal.