Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly [Images] says he is looking forward to playing in the Challenger Trophy and prove himself.

"I don't expect to be in Kolkata during the pujas. I will probably be gone for the Challenger," Ganguly said during a function at his restaurant, Sourav's.

"I am now practising with the Bengal team. I have got runs in the Moin-ud Dowla Trophy," he said.

"I know I have to score runs consistently, so I am looking forward to playing the Challenger if I get a chance," Ganguly said, adding, "I want to use domestic tournaments for making a comeback into the national squad."

The squads for the Challenger Series, to be played from October 1 to 4 in Chennai, is to be picked on September 26.

Ganguly had skipped the Challenger Series last year, citing tennis elbow.

The tournament came close on the heels of his spat with coach Greg Chappell [Images] during the tour of Zimbabwe.

Regarding Irfan Pathan [Images], who has hit a bad patch in his career, Ganguly, during whose tenure the pacer was selected to the Indian team, said, "Ups and downs are part and parcel of every cricketer's life; he is only 21 years old and has a lot of cricket left in him. He will come back again."