Indian selectors are seeking an explanation from former captain Saurav Ganguly for not turning out for his home state Bengal in a round of the national championship that began on Sunday.
The chairman of selectors, Kiran More, told Reuters on Monday that Ganguly's failure to heed instructions to play the state's game ahead of the Pakistan tour was worrying the selectors.
"I am surprised that he is not playing the four-day match against Gujarat in Surat," said More. "It is so important to have match practice ahead of a demanding tour."
The 33-year-old Ganguly was recalled to the test team for next month's tour after his abrupt axing for the third and final test in the home series against Sri Lanka caused an uproar in the cricket-mad nation.
Ganguly scored 40 and 39 in the second test in New Delhi earlier this month which India won by 188 runs.
"He also missed the previous round against Karnataka," More said. "All the selectors are asking this question. He owes the board an explanation."
Board secretary Niranjan Shah said he has asked More to submit a report.
Shah said Ganguly would then be asked to reply. With the next round of the national championship clashing with the team's January 5 departure, Ganguly's only opportunity for match practice would be the three-day warm-up game in Lahore from January 7.
The first of the three tests begins on January 13.
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