Wednesday, August 2 2006 18:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Rajkot: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has said that Saurav Ganguly can make a come back into the national squad only if he performs well.

"If Saurav Ganguly performs well, and if there arises a requirement for him to play, the selectors will definitely select him. If the selectors feel that he should play in the team, then they would definitely take him. He is still our contract player and he is still playing," said Niranjan Shah, the Secretary of the BCCI, in Rajkot.

The selectors are scheduled to meet on August 9 to finalise the initial list of players for the Champions Trophy, which is to be played in India from October 7 to November 5.

Vice-Captain Virender Sehwag has also said that Ganguly can make a come back if he performs well.

Ganguly is currently playing for Northamptonshire in England.

Although he may find it tough to break into the national side for the event, cricket officials feel Ganguly's experience could be used during a busy season that includes a proposed tri-series against Australia and West Indies ahead of the Champions Trophy.

One of only four players to aggregate over 10,000 runs in one-day internationals, Ganguly has maintained that he wants to play in next year's World Cup in the Caribbean.

India next play in a one-day tri-series in Colombo involving hosts Sri Lanka and South Africa from August 14. The 34-year-old Ganguly was sacked following a prolonged batting slump, fitness woes and a row with Coach Greg Chappell.