Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly recalled a moment to cherish with Pakistan’s ever-green all-rounder Imran Khan. He said Pakistan legend’s words helped him to successfully overcome from Chappell saga.

In 2005, then Team India coach Greg Chappell and skipper Sourav Ganguly were in the clash of thoughts. It led the coach to inform BCCI that he is not fit for the captaincy and should be removed. Afterwards, the board sacked him from the task before eventually axing him from the squad. However, Ganguly shut his critics with a successful comeback into the Indian line-up.

The southpaw revealed that it was Imran Khan’s word, which became the inspiration for him to regain his confidence. “It (Being dropped from the team) was tough but it made me a better person. I once met Imran Khan in Lahore during that period. He was actually following Indian cricket. We have a fantastic relationship, Imran and myself,” said Ganguly to India Today.

“He said something to me which I always remember in life. When you fly high and see dark clouds, you find a way to fly higher. I remembered those words during that (tough) period.”

He further elaborated “I was so angry that I started running at Eden Gardens. It was about 2006. I kept running at Eden Gardens. I kept running, running and running till I finished 21 laps. The last six or seven were just out of anger.”

Despite making a great return, Prince of Kolkata hung his boots after Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2008. Several experts feel that Chappell brought one of the darkest periods in Indian cricket.