03 June,2011 07:54 AM IST | | Agencies
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has backed the decision of senior players to miss the West Indies tour after an exhaustive five-month period that included a tour of South Africa, the World Cup, and the Indian Premier League (IPL). "How can you ignore IPL? The country always comes first but you cannot ignore IPL," Ganguly told the media. The Indian team is touring the West Indies without six seniors.
Sourav Ganguly
"Every series is going to take its toll on players. They need rest and some tours will be missed," Ganguly said in defence of his former teammates.
IPL no 'monster'
Refuting former Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga's comment that the IPL was a "monster", Ganguly said T20 league was an apt platform for players to shape up their careers. "I don't think it's a monster. It has made careers of many players. Only a few can play for the national team while there are heaps of players who are talented but never get a chance. The IPL has given a platform to many such players. It not only is a platform to play for the country but also provides players with financial security, which is important," Ganguly said.
IPL 2012 hopes...
Dada hoped to feature in the next season of the cash-rich league as well. "A lot of players moved in to new teams. I have moved to Pune Warriors in the late stage of the tournament. Hopefully, I will feature in the next season as well," Ganguly said.
