Indian coach Greg Chappell on Wednesday said Sourav Ganguly had done his best to be included in the touring squad but whether he found a place in the playing eleven would be a purely cricketing decision.

Chappell said that Ganguly might have been a captain before but it would make no difference when it comes to "picking the best team" for the first Test against Pakistan.

"It is about picking the best team. If Sourav is in the team, he is in the team. If he is in the reserve bench, he is in the reserve bench," Chappell told reporters.

The first Test starts at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore on Friday.

"Whether he has been the captain before on not makes no difference.

"He wants to keep playing, he wants to play for India. You can't knock that. He is putting some good performances in domestic cricket.

"But at the end of the day, we have to pick the best team. And it will be based on cricket," the 57-year old former Australian captain said.

Chappell had made the same statement in his first conference after arriving in Pakistan.

"Sourav is part of the touring squad but we will decide after the lead up game what will be the best eleven for the Test," he had then said.

"He is one of those players I don't have any differences with. He understands and I understand what is required of all the players and as a group the focus remains on commitment to excellence.

"The players understand what is expected of them and Ganguly is no different."