Courtesy: Sify.com
 
Lahore, Jan 14: Seeking to put the lid on the controversy surrounding the selection of Sourav Ganguly at the cost of a regular opener, Indian coach Greg Chappell on Friday said the best playing eleven was selected for the first Test against Pakistan.

 Chappell said Ganguly’s experience and knowledge of the conditions had been taken into account while finalising the team composition.

"We wanted to make sure the best eleven would be selected for the match. Experience and knowledge of conditions here were also taken into account," Chappell told a press conference after the opening day’s play.

Chappell, whose public spat with Ganguly during last year’s Zimbabwe tour made headlines, also blamed the media for reading too much into the animated discussion involving him, captain Rahul Dravid and Ganguly before commencement of the play.

"We were discussing cricket. I don’t know where all these talks come from. There was nothing of the sort," he said while describing the chat in the middle during which Ganguly seemed to be the most vocal.

Asked whether Ganguly would open the innings, Chappell responded by saying he did not believe in discussing the batting order with the media. Ganguly would open the innings with Virender Sehwag.

Chappell was wholesome in praise of the Pakistani batsmen when talking about the day’s play during which the Indian bowling was cut to ribbons by Pakistan vice-captain Younis Khan, who cracked an unbeaten 147 and Mohammed Yousuf (95 not out).

"We did not get as many wickets as we would have liked. We did not have a good day in office. Whatever we tried did not work out. Full credit to the Pakistanis, they batted very well," he said.