{ "id": "13942", "author": "13", "cnmid": "0", "title": "Ganguly to miss Libra Legends' opener in MCL", "lang": "en", "series": "20", "cup_year": "2016", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "", "subtype": "", "editor1": "

Dubai, Jan 27 (Cricketnmore):<\/strong> Bogged down by a back spasm, former India captain Sourav Ganguly is set to miss Libra Legends' first match of the inaugural Master Cricket League (MCL), starting here on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Ganguly was to lead Legends in the T20 tournament but had to pull out after doctors advised him rest after suffering a back spasm during a practice game some days ago, a news website reported on Wednesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

However, according to report, the 43-year-old will be in the city cheering his team for the first game on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Australian cricketer Brad Hogg who attended the captain's press conference for the Legends said Ganguly would be joining the team soon.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

A source close to Ganguly said: "He (Ganguly) had signed the playing contract much earlier and was committed to play in the tournament. Despite his busy schedule, Ganguly had engaged himself in regular practice sessions for a while until this unfortunate turn of events."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"We have already written to the league management clarifying the position and despite the medical advice, he will be undertaking a four and-half hour flight each way to be with the team for the first match."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

When asked about Ganguly’s pullout earlier in the day, MCL chairman Zafar Shah said he still does not know much about the situation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

With Ganguly not taking part in the opener, the responsibility to lead the team would surely fall on former South African star all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who won the Big Bash League (BBL) on Sunday with Sydney Thunders.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

“Kallis’ Sydney Thunders won the Big Bash league, so he was not there for training this morning after all that celebrations. I think he has landed and is in the hotel ... I will be going and grabbing him and make sure he is there with us for cruise tonight. He has been the coach of Kolkata Knight Riders, so I have to do a bit of sucking up to him,” Hogg said.<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2016\/01\/sourav-ganguly28.jpg", "alt_img": "Sourav Ganguly Image", "alt_title": "Sourav Ganguly", "image1": "", "video": "", "seo_title": "Ganguly to miss Libra Legends' opener in MCL", "seo_desc": "Ganguly to miss Libra Legends' opener in MCLDubai, Jan 27 (Cricketnmore): Bogged down by a back spasm, former India captain Sourav Ganguly is set to miss Libra ", "seo_keywords": "Sourav Ganguly, Master Cricket League, Big Bash league", "tag": "", "tagging": "", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "0", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": "0", "slug": "ganguly-to-miss-libra-legends-opener-in-master-cricket-league", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": "0000-00-00", "ians_time": "00:00:00", "server_time": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "trash": "0", "view_count": "2239", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "0", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2016-01-27 18:45:00", "updated": "2016-01-27 18:45:00", "img_from": "", "img_source": "", "schedule_publish": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "news_keywords": null, "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2016-01-27 18:45:00", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": "2016-01-27 18:45:00", "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "england_cricket": "0", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/ganguly-to-miss-libra-legends-opener-in-master-cricket-league-13942" }