Sourav Ganguly seemed to have ironed out his so-called long-standing differences with Jagmohan Dalmiya.

Having kept the media waiting at his Behala home for hours for reaction, the former India captain after hearing his selection news went straight to have a word with the former BCCI president at his office in the BC Roy Club House in Eden Gardens.

Even Dalmiya went on hailing Ganguly's selection and urged him to take up the captaincy of Bengal to rescue the team, which is languishing in the Plate League.

"We are all happy for him (Ganguly)... I wish him all the best for the two Tests against Australia," Dalmiya said after his 20 minutes' meeting with the Left-hander.

Dalmiya said Bengal need Ganguly's service to come back in the Super League.

"I've talked to him to play for Bengal in the domestic season. I've also requested him to take up the captaincy at this critical juncture when we're relegated to Plate League.

"He is the best person to lead the side and take Bengal into Super League again. Ganguly's presence also inspire and motivate other youngsters in the team to perform," he said.

Dalmiya also said Ganguly is an experienced campaigner and needs no backing or favour to get into the national side.

The smooth relationship between Ganguly and Dalmiya had turned bitter after the former India captain had openly accused the seasoned cricket administrator for an e-mail leakage which led to his drop-out in the Greg Chappell era, two years ago.

Ganguly to play for India A in the final against New Zealand A Kolkata, Oct 1 (PTI) Out of cricket for more than a month after he was left out for the Irani Trophy, Sourav Ganguly will play in the India A's second and final four-day match against New Zealand A in Chennai before joining the team for the Australia Test series.

The former India captain is leaving for Chennai tonight to play under Suresh Raina in the match beginning on October 3(rpt October 3).

"Sourav (Ganguly) desired to play a match before joining the team, so we have arranged him to play in the India A's match against New Zealand A. After the four-day match gets over, Ganguly will directly join the Team India Test squad at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore where the players are camping right now," BCCI chief administrative officer Prof Ratnakar Shetty told PTI.

Having been ignored by the Dilip Vengsarkar-led selection panel earlier, Ganguly today got a fresh lease of life when he was picked by the new selection committee headed by K Srikkanth in a 15-man squad for the first two Tests against Australia.