Sourav breaks his silence over IPL snub

Breaking his silence after being ignored in the IPL auction, Sourav Ganguly on Saturday said he never played politics and was always transparent in what he did as a cricketer.

Indirectly taking a dig at the IPL snub during a programme in Kolkata, Ganguly said: "I never did politics. I would not have been here if I did politics. With my practical experiences I say whatever you do, you will not be at the top all the time.

So when you are at the top, be transparent. The rule is the same for all, be it in politics or sport. As a leader you must tell the truth. They might not like it but it's important to be clear with your colleagues," Ganguly said.

Having retired from international cricket, Ganguly continued playing in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders in the first three seasons but none of the 10 franchises showed any interest in the city's favourite son who now finds his cricketing career come to an abrupt end.

But the 38-year-old former captain insisted that there was no age for retirement.

"As long as you perform, age is not a bar for retirement," he said.

Referring to Indian cricket's Big Three -- Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman -- who are at the fag-end of their careers, Ganguly said the selectors should be careful to avoid an Australia-like crisis.

"Look at the Australians. In one series it was Hayden, Langer, Gilchrist, Warne and McGrath. That's too much of a void to fill so quickly," Ganguly said.

Ganguly said the magnificent trio should retire in phases.

"I don't see them retiring very soon as long as they keep performing. But the selectors have to remember one thing that they make sure that they don't finish together, so there will be a lot of void.

"So the selectors have to be careful to make sure that they go one at a time and not all together so that you get in the replacements and get them ready.

"Also it's important to get in the replacements in a home series so that they go to an overseas tour with runs and confidence behind them.

"You saw Cheteshwar Pujara in the Test series in South Africa. He struggled a bit but it was difficult condition to bat in there as well. So it's important that they go in phases."