When Sourav Ganguly received war' phone call from Pervez Musharraf post kebab party
The India skipper could not make the most of his celebrations during India's tour of Pakistan, back in 2004.
Kolkata: There’s always that special feeling when you win. And for captains, it means much more than that. Sourav Ganguly witnessed the same emotions during India’s tour of Pakistan in 2004, leading the visitors to an ODI and Test triumph. However, the former India skipper could not make the most of the celebrations due to tight security in the neighbouring country back then. Renowned journalist Rajdeep Sardesai had a hand to play in ruining Ganguly's party.
“I think of all the wins, yes, Pakistan was good. Rajdeep Sardesai spoiled my dinner there as well. As I was going through my kebabs in that beautiful series in Pakistan. I manage to sneak out of the back door of the hotel because the security was unreal in that series. I saw Rajdeep coming from far. I was sitting with my friends. The police did not know that I had left because I was fed up with the guns and the bullets. And the moment I saw Rajdeep I said I hope he does not recognise me. He recognises me from far and says what is the Indian captain doing on food street in Pakistan with friends and my dinner ended there,“ said Ganguly during a recent event in Kolkata.
“In a minute I got a call from the intelligence that you got to leave immediately and luckily I was captain and we were beating Pakistan and we beat Pakistan in that series. Nobody scolded. I got a call from Musharraf next morning. He said next time you do it and anything happens, it is going to be a war,” he added further.
Ganguly, who has sung praises of Virat Kohli in recent times for his captaincy credentials, feels that winning abroad increases your value as skipper.
“I have always said and will keep saying that I just kept getting unpopular with a few people that your real ability as a captain gets tested when you go away from India and it is same thing with me. Whether it is for (Rahul) Dravid or Anil (Kumble) or MS (Dhoni) and now Virat Kohli. You will always be judged how you do well outside India because that’s what real captaincy is all about,” Ganguly explained.