Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram is critical of Anil Kumble’s elevation to Test captaincy ahead of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram is critical of Anil Kumble’s elevation to
Test captaincy ahead of Mahendra Singh Dhoni
MUMBAI: Wasim Akram has criticised the Indian selectors’ decision to elevate Anil Kumble to Test captaincy.
The former Pakistan captain told DNA that Mahendra Singh Dhoni would have been a better choice.
Stating that he was baffled by the Indian selectors’ decision, Akram said: “I was 24-year-old when I became the captain. Stephen Fleming was 23 when he was made the New Zealand skipper. And Dhoni is 25. What’s the reason behind hedging a youngster from captaincy when he has the right attitude and has been successful in leading the One-Day side?”
According to him, logically, Kumble is as new to the role of a Test captain as Dhoni is.
“So why not have Dhoni in the first place than having a stop-gap skipper?” he asked.
He, however, praised Dhoni and his men for the recent T20 success in South Africa and said with the current balance in batting and bowling, the team will win more matches for India in future.
Clearly calling India the favourites in the ongoing India-Pakistan series, Akram lauded the Indian team for its recent wins and said the team has a great future considering the balance of youth in the side.
But the praise came with a certain caveat that youth without experience can usher in infamy as too much exuberance may rob the team of the experience that seniors can bring to the side.
Akram heaped praise on seniors like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, and said: “The presence of seniors makes the team a formidable side as they compliment the raw talent that emanates from youngsters.”
He almost ridiculed the rotation policy saying: “The system can work only when you have enough players to rotate. Among all the senior players in the reckoning, India needs them all as they still have the mettle to win matches.”
Akram was even more critical on the captaincy issue of the Pakistan team. “Pakistan cricket is unpredictable and Shoaib Malik has no future as a captain,” he said.
He, however, praised the talent in the present Pakistan side and hoped that the team would do well in India.
Akram picked Shaoib Akhtar as the man who can win both the Test and the One-Day series for Pakistan.
“Shoaib is rusty as he didn’t play too much cricket after the ban. He will improve through the series, but he can still make a difference.”
Asked if his off-field notoriety affects Shoaib’s game, the ex-Pakistan skipper said:
“Shoaib is a player who is never under any kind of pressure. He plays the game with passion and aggression.”
Akram’s passion for cricket was almost manifest in his frenzy over a comparison between a India-Pakistan series and the Ashes.
“There is no comparison between the two. The passion of any India-Pakistan game is 10 times more intense than England playing Australia.”
Though the ex-Pakistan skipper lauded the growing camaraderie between the two rival teams, he was quick to highlight the tension that still overtakes the mind of any cricket-lover from the outcome of a India-Pak tie.
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