Calcutta: If Sourav Ganguly heaved a sigh of relief after scoring his first century at the Eden Gardens on Saturday, the crowd — among them Pakistan and Indian cricketers — too was happy for him.

While former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal said it may well be Sourav’s parting gift, former Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin said Sourav would be a relieved man now.

The following are excerpts (alphabetically):

Mohammed Azharuddin: He played really well… I’m sure everybody in Calcutta enjoyed the knock… Sourav must be a relieved man now… He really worked a lot for the century. It was a sedate knock and his innings was quite positive.

Devang Gandhi: It was a very good knock … The century at the home venue was long pending… He had total control on the innings… It was impeccable… Sourav’s century came at a time when there was a lot of pressure on the seniors. The century augurs well for Indian cricket.

Asif Iqbal: It was a brilliant knock, a dream come true for him. The crowd was ecstatic. It was a special knock since there was a lot of pressure on him… He was fighting for his place in the side and it must be a great feeling to have sealed it. Whether it’s first or last, a century is always memorable. It could be his best parting gift to his die-hard fans.

Arun Lal: It was a wonderful innings, played with a lot of concentration and determination. There was a lot of pressure on him, specially because he was playing in front of his home crowd. I’m sure he must be really satisfied having scored such a hundred at the Eden. You can’t say this is his last appearance at the venue… He may play again… you never know….