Angry cricket fans in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal protested today at the axing of former captain Sourav Ganguly for the third and final test against Sri Lanka.
Protesters blocked roads and rail tracks at several places in Ganguly's home town of Kolkata and other districts of the state,
police said.
Ignoring political or other differences, hundreds of people rallied behind Ganguly, condemning the "injustice" done to the batsman.
Ganguly, India's most successful captain with 21 test wins, was dropped yesterday from the squad for the third and final test against the visiting team starting at Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Effigies of Indian coach Greg Chappell and chief selector Kiran More were burnt and their pictures were garlanded with shoes in Esplanade, a business hub, and elsewhere in the city, city deputy commissioner Anuj Sharma said.
Protesters marched chanting slogans, "We want Sourav back" and "Chappell, More go to hell".
Film stars and eminent personalities of the city also voiced their protests against the coach and the chief selector.
Ganguly scored 40 and 39 in his team's 188-run victory in the second Test at Delhi. He has scored 5150 runs in 86 tests.
India are leading 1-0 heading into the final test.
* Pakistan, inspired by a second successive century by Kamran Akmal, crushed England by 165 runs in the third one-day international in Karachi today.
England, chasing a massive victory target of 354, were bowled out for 188 in 42 overs on the way to a record-equalling defeat which left them 2-1 down in the series.
Pakistan's victory was inspired by wicketkeeper Akmal who followed up his 102 in the second match at Lahore with a sparkling 109.
The opener's third one-day hundred, made from only 111 balls and including 12 fours, powered Pakistan to a mammoth 353 for six before a sellout crowd despite stringent security measures.
England are the first non-Asian team to play at the venue for five years due to security concerns.
England never recovered after Shoaib Akhtar ran out Matt Prior for two and in the next over seamer Rana Naved had Marcus Trescothick and Vikram Solanki caught in the slips for 32 and a duck.
