Kolkata, Jan 20 Irate fans of Sourav Ganguly burnt an effigy of BCCI president Sharad Pawar as protests erupted in the metropolis over the former skipper being sacked from the national squad for the coming Triangular series in Australia.

Incensed at Ganguly being kept out of the team, around 40 cricket buffs gathered near his residence at Behala and raised slogans against the selectors and Pawar.

They set fire to an effigy of Pawar and beat it with shoes and chappals.

"Bring dada back", demanded the fans, holding posters and banners.

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) described Ganguly's sacking as "grave injustice" and said it would lodge a strong protest to BCCI.

"What has been done is totally wrong, grave injustice is being done to him", says CAB joint secretary Samar Pal.

"It seems Dhoni did not want him in the side. Dhoni is more comfortable with juniors so he is in favour of axing seniors. But we will not sit idle. We will lodge a strong protest", Pal told PTI. (Agencies)