Veteran CPM leader and former state minister Asok Bhattacharya wrote to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly on Monday, requesting him to “reconsider” the exclusion of wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha from the Indian Test squad for the upcoming series with Sri Lanka.

On Saturday, the BCCI announced names of the 18-member squad, but Saha had been dropped. Saha, who is from Siliguri, spoke out against Ganguly and head coach of the Indian cricket team Rahul Dravid. Protests were seen across Siliguri and posts were shared on social media against the decision.

Bhattacharya, who has a personal relationship with Ganguly, said in the letter that the decision to drop Saha disappointed residents of Siliguri and north Bengal as a whole.

He added: “It pained me just like I felt bad when Sourav Ganguly had faced similar circumstances earlier. Wriddhman Saha is our pride.”

“So I sent Sourav Ganguly the personal letter, requesting him to see if the decision can be reconsidered.”