'Voluntary retirement' was only option for Sourav

KOLKATA: Much before Sourav Gangulyannounced his retirement on Tuesday in Bangalore, he had spoken to thepowers-that-be in the BCCI. According to TOI's sources, Sourav informed the BCCIof his desire to sign off his international career after the two-Test seriesagainst the Englishmen, against whom he had made a memorable debut way back in1996.He got a sympathetic hearing and some assurances, paving theway for his 'return' to the Team India fold. The assurances, however, came witha couple of riders. First, he would get only the series against Australia.Secondly, it would be up to the new selectors to judge his performance in thefirst two Tests before he is given an extension till the end of theseries.Given his highly untenable position, thanks to former chiefselector Dilip Vengsarkar who had all but sealed Sourav's fate by dropping himfrom the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup last month, the stylish southpawhad no choice but to accept BCCI's 'voluntary retirement' offer. He grabbed itwith both hands.His formal announcement of retirement brings thecurtain down on the weeklong drama over the future of the 'Fab Four', which isnow down to just three. As the hue and cry over Sourav subsides in the heat ofthe Test series that gets under way on Thursday in Bangalore, the focus willslowly but surely shift to the other seniors in the team who are also on noticefor all practical purposes.VVS Laxman is under close scrutinyprimarily because of his lack of fitness. Fortunately for him, the series isagainst Australia against whom his record is truly envious. It will be up toLaxman to come up with something very, very special to keep the guillotine atbay.Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, who too are nearing theirsell-by date, are also feeling the heat. Expect them to hold on to their placesfor a while longer as selectors infuse fresh blood into an Indian team that isafflicted with anaemia. But make no mistake, living on past glory is no longerfashionable in Indian cricket which is getting increasingly intolerant tofailures.Skipper Anil Kumble, who has spent the better part of lastweek moaning about the media frenzy over the seniors' future, is also underpressure. A strong show in a possible series win will present him with a grandopportunity to bow out on a high, but an adverse result could see him do aSourav, much before the series gets over.Forced or not, but Sourav'sannouncement to quit after the Australia series opens a new chapter in Indiancricket where players shun 'retirement' like plague. Barring Sunil Gavaskar, noIndian player of any standing has cared to formally call it quits. With thecurrent lot of senior players showing no signs of stepping aside, someone had toclear the logjam.BCCI's first bunch of paid selectors have at leastmade a beginning. One down, few more have to go before Mahendra Singh Dhoni'syouth brigade graduates from T20 and enrols in the university of Testcricket. Players inthe world with the unique distinction of completing a treble of over 10,000runs, 100 wickets and 100 catches. The other players are Sachin Tendulkar andSanath Jayasuriya. Timeshe has the distinction of posting the fastest 1000-run mark in ODIs. They are:7000 runs in 174 innings, 8000 runs in 200 innings and 9000 runs in 228innings. One of 11Indians to score a century on debut in Test cricket. The others are: LalaAmarnath, Deepak Shodhan, Kripal Singh, Abbas Ali Baig, Hanumant Singh, GundappaViswanath, Surinder Amarnath, Mohammad Azharuddin, Praveen Amre and VirenderSehwag. Tests won byIndia abroad remains the most under hiscaptaincy Tests won ascaptain remains Indian record. At second position with 14 victories is MdAzharuddin. Tests ascaptain remains the most by an Indian. Azharuddin and Sunil Gavaskar with 47each are at the secondspot Runs inassociation with Sachin Tendulkar for the first wicket in ODIs, the highestever(Stats by - Anant Gaundalkar)