New Delhi: India's beleaguered World Cup captain Saurav Ganguly has received a resounding vote of no-confidence - from his big brother.

Snehasish Ganguly believes the Indian skipper has lost his scoring touch and will be stripped of the captaincy unless there is a turnaround in his team's fortunes in South Africa.

The Indian opener is the ninth-highest run-getter in the world with 8,272 in 220 One- dayers including 19 centuries.

But he has scored just 75 in his last nine matches, with his latest flop coming against Australia on Saturday when he scored only nine runs.

According to Snehasish Ganguly, Saurav's dismissal against the Australians - edging a delivery that was sailing well wide - typified his younger brother's problems.

"Can any sane person nick such a wide ball?" he said in an English daily.

"If he (Saurav) carries on the same way, not only will he lose his captaincy, but he will also be dropped from the first XI," Snehasish said.

Snehasish said he did not believe Australian pace was the main reason for India's defeat.

"Many people may praise the Australian team, but I don't agree with them," said Snehasish, himself a former first-class cricketer.

"Even a para (local) cricketer from Biren Roy Road, where we stay (in Calcutta), can easily knock out Sachin (Tendulkar) or Saurav's wicket," he said.

"When I saw him stepping out to hit (Glenn) McGrath at the very beginning, I immediately knew Saurav's time was up. Lack of concentration and lack of patience had combined.

"Besides, it appeared that Saurav's mind is not at all on cricket. He should go down at number three of four. The Indian captain should retreat immediately from the position he is holding now."

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
Ganguly exhorts team to show character, stay focused