"The weakness of Ganguly that he cannot play a short ball is now widely known in international cricket and his performance in the recent series was also not up to mark," Sidhu said here on Thursday.

"If the captain wants to protect his dominance in the team, he will have to overcome his weakness and for the same the coming series are very crucial for him," he said.

Coach Greg Chappell had alleged in his recent e-mail to the BCCI President that Ganguly shied away from facing the new ball in the Mutare practice match in Zimbabwe which gave way to a controversial row between the coach and the captain.

The former opening batsman said even if the recent Ganguly-Chappell appeared to have been resolved it had dented the country's image in the international cricket.

"Whatever happened between Chappell and Ganguly was not good for Indian cricket.

"Although the (Indian Cricket) Board's managed to patch up between the two but the question regarding continuance of Ganguly as the Indian team's captain was still open as he will have to prove his mettle in the coming series to protect his career.

"Now the cricketers and Board should look forward to improve the game as well as image of the country after burying the past," he said.

Meanwhile, Ganguly said that he had been vindicated as he had done nothing wrong.

"In a way I feel I have been vindicated because I hadn't done anything wrong. The review committee gave me a patient hearing and I put my point of view across to them," Ganguly is quoted as saying in the Deccan Herald.

"I think they were reasonably convinced with my replies and I am very happy the matter has been settled now... You could say I am happy and relieved in equal parts," the left handed batsman said.

Asked whether it was possible for him and Chappell to work as a team, he said: "I don't see any reason why we cannot. After all, both of us are interested in the welfare of the team and Indian cricket."