Sourav Ganguly's lack of confidence in his pace attack is showing through after only one match of the triangular one-day series. Following Friday night's pasting at the Wanderers, where India scored 279 and yet lost by six wickets with almost two overs to spare, Ganguly has sent an SOS for the left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan. And the fact that the appeal has been directed at the Board president, Jagmohan Dalmiya, indicates the urgency of his plea. Zaheer had earlier been ruled out of the one-day series by the BCCI sports medicine expert, Dr Anant Joshi, on account of a shin injury sustained in Sri Lanka.

BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah clarified that he had not heard from either Ganguly or Zaheer. However, he stated that certain procedures would have to be followed before Zaheer could be drafted in. "Zaheer is yet to produce a fitness certificate," he said. "Then the Board doctor will examine him and intimate [to] the selectors whether the player is fit or not."

Ganguly's concern stems from the fact that Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad were hit for 73 runs off the first ten overs, while the original third seamer Harvinder Singh was not even in the XI after his lacklustre showing against South Africa A. Ironically, the only bowler who has looked the part was not even in the original squad. Ajit Agarkar, a late replacement for the injured Ashish Nehra, was impressive against South Africa A and had the the best figures (10-0-45-1) at Johannesburg.

In fact, Nehra's exclusion was hotly contested by Ganguly, and his appeal for Zaheer might be one way of getting back at the Board. And with the Board now headed by the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal, Ganguly – a Bengali himself – may well have his demand met.

What this will do to the confidence of Srinath, Prasad and Harvinder is not difficult to imagine, especially with another match against the same opponents looming on Wednesday.  

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd