Kolkata, Feb 15 (IANS) Expressing surprise over Manoj Tiwary being kept out of the Indian team in the ongoing tri-series in Australia, former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly Tuesday asked the player to be patient as "opportunities will come for him".

"It is surprising that Manoj has been made to sit out after scoring a century in his last outing," Ganguly told mediapersons on the sidelines of the Bengal team's practice session for the coming domestic one dayers. Ganguly is the captain of the side.

"But I'm sure opportunities would come for him. He has to remain patient," said Ganguly.

Tiwary struck his maiden ODI hundred to set up a 34-run Indian win over the west Indies in Chennai last December.

Ganguly hoped that the problems between the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Sahara India Group will be sorted out.

Sahara, which has been sponsoring the Indian cricket team for 11 years, severed all its ties with the BCCI earlier this month. Sahara said it was denied natural justice and the last straw was the BCCI's refusal to allow Yuvraj Singh's price to be added to Pune Warriors' auction purse after the southpaw was ruled out of the tournament with a lung tumour.

It has also pulled out as owner of the Pune Warriors franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Ganguly also predicted that offie Harbhajan Singh, now out of the Indian team, will make a comeback.

"What's wrong in playing two off-spinners (Ashwin and Harbhajan) together? I am sure Harbhajan will be back," he said.