Akram slams Dhoni for dispirited leadership

Punjabee in USA · Oct 1st, 2009, 10:57 AM

Very true

Hope they learn from their mistakes in time for the Aus series.

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CRICKETNDTV.com: Akram slams Dhoni for dispirited leadership

Disappointed with India's early ouster from the Champions Trophy, former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has come down heavily on Mahendra Singh Dhoni for his listless captaincy.

"I think body language of the Indians in this tournament wasn't good at all. I remember when Harbhajan came on to bowl and started conceding runs behind the wicket. If I was Dhoni I would have had a word with him, telling him I don't mind if you are hit through the covers but not (bowl) this line," Akram said.

Despite the seven-wicket victory over the West Indies yesterday, India's campaign in the eight-nation tournament ended after Australia pipped Pakistan by two wickets in another Group A thriller earlier in the day.

Akram, far from being amused with the performance of Indian bowlers, also cited example of legendary Imran Khan, recalling how he used to mentor the pacers at the time of difficulty.

"I have seen this happen to a lot of Indian fast bowlers.

Initially all of them, Munaf (Patel), RP Singh, Irfan (Pathan) and Ishant (Sharma) appear to bowl 140kmph upwards but within a year their pace drops to in the 130s and 120s.

"When this happens, I am reminded of what my skipper and mentor Imran Khan used to tell me. He used to ask me to just bowl fast without worrying too much about line and length, no balls and wide," Akram said.

A classic case was of Irfan, who in his days of trouble, appeared to seek advice from too many people, feels the legendary pacer.

"It can become an issue if you approach too many people for advice. It's important you speak to people who have seen it and done it all but not to everyone," said Akram.

Asked about the wicket on which India registered a consolation win over the West Indies, Akram said, "What do you think the wicket is if Dhoni gets a wicket?"

On Pakistan's performance in the Champions Trophy, Akram feels that Younus Khan's men have a very good chance to enter the final, provided which wicket they will play on.

"There are two wickets at the Wanderers. One good and one bad. If they play on good wicket, Pakistan stands a good chance for they have more variety in their attack. If they play on a bad wicket, then it's anybody's game," he said.

Pakistan will take on New Zealand in the second semifinal on October 3 in Johannesburg.

However, Akram expressed his admiration for India's senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar and felt the Mumbai cricketer still has a lot to offer.

"I am not surprised that he is still carrying on, having spent two decades in international field. You can last that long if you have energy and passion. Tendulkar still has that passion for the game," Akram said.

While sharing the moment of his induction in the ICC's Hall of Fame, Akram remembered the 1999 Test against India where Tendulkar stood like a wall between Pakistan and the victory.

"During the course of that final innings of the Test, Tendulkar showed why the Indian team revolved around him. We knew if we could get him, we would win the Test. And so it happened," he said.

Akram also rated former Australian Adam Gilchrist as the best batsman he had ever bowled to in his career.

"He could punch you both sides of the wicket, could cut, hook or pull and was just impossible to bowl to. He was just very quick on his feet," Akram said.

Decent 6Chora · Oct 1st, 2009, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punjabee in USA

....Asked about the wicket on which India registered a consolation win over the West Indies, Akram said, "What do you think the wicket is if Dhoni gets a wicket?"

Punjabee in USA · Oct 1st, 2009, 11:29 AM

^ Itna mat hanso....

That wicket is where you will be playing your SF against NZ

Decent 6Chora · Oct 1st, 2009, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punjabee in USA

^ Itna mat hanso....

That wicket is where you will be playing your SF against NZ

We will make sure that younus Khan does not have to bowl

ehsan · Oct 1st, 2009, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punjabee in USA

^ Itna mat hanso....

That wicket is where you will be playing your SF against NZ

No problem, NZ will have to face our bowlers as well. Works both ways.

IS · Oct 1st, 2009, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehsan

No problem, NZ will have to face our bowlers as well. Works both ways.

dont forget WC match against IL

happyheart · Oct 1st, 2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punjabee in USA

Very true

Hope they learn from their mistakes in time for the Aus series.

================================================== =======

CRICKETNDTV.com: Akram slams Dhoni for dispirited leadership

Disappointed with India's early ouster from the Champions Trophy, former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has come down heavily on Mahendra Singh Dhoni for his listless captaincy.

"I think body language of the Indians in this tournament wasn't good at all. I remember when Harbhajan came on to bowl and started conceding runs behind the wicket. If I was Dhoni I would have had a word with him, telling him I don't mind if you are hit through the covers but not (bowl) this line," Akram said.

Despite the seven-wicket victory over the West Indies yesterday, India's campaign in the eight-nation tournament ended after Australia pipped Pakistan by two wickets in another Group A thriller earlier in the day.

Akram, far from being amused with the performance of Indian bowlers, also cited example of legendary Imran Khan, recalling how he used to mentor the pacers at the time of difficulty.

"I have seen this happen to a lot of Indian fast bowlers.

Initially all of them, Munaf (Patel), RP Singh, Irfan (Pathan) and Ishant (Sharma) appear to bowl 140kmph upwards but within a year their pace drops to in the 130s and 120s.

"When this happens, I am reminded of what my skipper and mentor Imran Khan used to tell me. He used to ask me to just bowl fast without worrying too much about line and length, no balls and wide," Akram said.

A classic case was of Irfan, who in his days of trouble, appeared to seek advice from too many people, feels the legendary pacer.

"It can become an issue if you approach too many people for advice. It's important you speak to people who have seen it and done it all but not to everyone," said Akram.

Asked about the wicket on which India registered a consolation win over the West Indies, Akram said, "What do you think the wicket is if Dhoni gets a wicket?"

On Pakistan's performance in the Champions Trophy, Akram feels that Younus Khan's men have a very good chance to enter the final, provided which wicket they will play on.

"There are two wickets at the Wanderers. One good and one bad. If they play on good wicket, Pakistan stands a good chance for they have more variety in their attack. If they play on a bad wicket, then it's anybody's game," he said.

Pakistan will take on New Zealand in the second semifinal on October 3 in Johannesburg.

However, Akram expressed his admiration for India's senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar and felt the Mumbai cricketer still has a lot to offer.

"I am not surprised that he is still carrying on, having spent two decades in international field. You can last that long if you have energy and passion. Tendulkar still has that passion for the game," Akram said.

While sharing the moment of his induction in the ICC's Hall of Fame, Akram remembered the 1999 Test against India where Tendulkar stood like a wall between Pakistan and the victory.

"During the course of that final innings of the Test, Tendulkar showed why the Indian team revolved around him. We knew if we could get him, we would win the Test. And so it happened," he said.

Akram also rated former Australian Adam Gilchrist as the best batsman he had ever bowled to in his career.

"He could punch you both sides of the wicket, could cut, hook or pull and was just impossible to bowl to. He was just very quick on his feet," Akram said.

Lately i seem to agree alot with you mate
but its nice that u post this article instead of always u know what i will not fall into repetition

cheers

Punjabee in USA · Oct 1st, 2009, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happyheart

Lately i seem to agree alot with you mate
but its nice that u post this article instead of always u know what i will not fall into repetition

cheers

Keep your head, heart & eyes open and you will agree with me a lot more

happyheart · Oct 1st, 2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punjabee in USA

Keep your head, heart & eyes open and you will agree with me a lot more

na na na na na
lolz
everything is open for you and for everyone on GS
u just need to enter it and enjoy the company

Antumul alona · Oct 1st, 2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Decent 6Chora

We will make sure that younus Khan does not have to bowl

BTW - YK's bowling is quite decent compared to some other captains....

Punjabee in USA · Oct 1st, 2009, 03:16 PM

Dhoni also got one wicket

ravage · Oct 2nd, 2009, 04:35 AM

its not about the captain, Dhoni has been one of the better captains of India, better than tendulkar and dravid anyway.

they just cant produce good fast bowlers. they say zaheer khan was missing a) its a sad day when a country's biggest hope is Zaheer Khan, a mediocre quickie and b) they were missing atleast 3 quality fast bowlers and a quality spinner. Harbajhan is not a good spinner, atleast in ODIs and atleast as far as Pakistan is concerned (dont really follow him otherwise).

as Manjrekar points out, this has been the story for 20 years. It is amazing that they can presume to think they're world number 1 with such a consistent incompetence in a vital part of the team.

Antumul alona · Oct 2nd, 2009, 09:02 AM

^^ maybe its the diet...or cheeta dil of pakis that produces fast bowlers again and again....

I sure hope Aamer can come close to Wasim....And Gullu and Asif try their best.(specially Asif)..then we could be have a good trio for the next 5 years atleast...

Decent 6Chora · Oct 2nd, 2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antumul alona

^^ maybe its the diet...or cheeta dil of pakis that produces fast bowlers again and again....

I sure hope Aamer can come close to Wasim....And Gullu and Asif try their best.(specially Asif)..then we could be have a good trio for the next 5 years atleast...

I guess its more of a IDOL thing. Pakistani youth make Imran, Wasim and Waqar as Idol and try to play like them while in India they have Batsmen as Idols like Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Dravid etc and youth try to play and be a batsmen like them.

Antumul alona · Oct 2nd, 2009, 09:52 AM

yeah...quite possibly so....

fkhan2 · Oct 2nd, 2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravage

its not about the captain, Dhoni has been one of the better captains of India, better than tendulkar and dravid anyway.

they just cant produce good fast bowlers. they say zaheer khan was missing a) its a sad day when a country's biggest hope is Zaheer Khan, a mediocre quickie and b) they were missing atleast 3 quality fast bowlers and a quality spinner. Harbajhan is not a good spinner, atleast in ODIs and atleast as far as Pakistan is concerned (dont really follow him otherwise).

as Manjrekar points out, this has been the story for 20 years. It is amazing that they can presume to think they're world number 1 with such a consistent incompetence in a vital part of the team.

Lame excuses as far as bowling goes for India. RP was regarded as their best pace option alongside Zaheer. Ishant Sharma was the next big thing last year. Few months they were saying that Harbhajhan Singh has found his lost touch once again.

The only poblem they had with the bowling was their idea of playing with 4 specialist bowlers. And it sounds really stupid if they are going to use this as an excuse. India is always known to prefer 7 batsmen and 4 bowlers in ODI's.

ravage · Oct 2nd, 2009, 12:23 PM

^ not too long ago Irfan Pathan was the next wasim akram. before that it was nehra. at some point agarkar has worn that mantle too. All solidly mediocre, all standard Indian bowling fare. They havent had a genuine good fast bowler in my lifetime.

Punjabee in USA · Oct 2nd, 2009, 12:54 PM

^ India has not had a genuinely good fast bowler. Period !

Bowlers like Kapil Dev, Srinath etc were good, but they were hardly fast. The newer lot is too inconsistent, and its too early to say how good/bad they are.

Part of the reason is that Indian cricket has always been about batsmen, and youngsters want to grow up to be a batsman rather than a bowler.

Giant · Oct 2nd, 2009, 03:42 PM

^ Not sure about that - Srinath was very fast at his peak. Problem with him was lack of heart for a fight. Ishant and Nehra were also fast (high 140s) initially. Akram is on the spot with the comment on the drop off in pace - consistent theme there. Bowler comes on scene bowling fast, media overhypes him, coaches get involved, pace drops off, bowler drops off, repeat cycle with new bowler.

Punjabee in USA · Oct 2nd, 2009, 03:45 PM

^ True, but even at his peak when Srinath was bowling around 135-140, Shoaib, Allan Donald & Brett Lee were bowling at 150 plus.

Agree with your comment on pace dropping off.