Advertisement

Help
You are here: Rediff Home » India » Cricket » The Cup » Reuters > Report
Search:  Rediff.com The Web
Advertisement
  Discuss this Article   |      Email this Article   |      Print this Article

Dravid is a leader, says chief selector
Get Cricket updates:What's this?
Advertisement
March 28, 2007 14:30 IST
Chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar has come to the defence of Rahul Dravid after the skipper came under fire for his team's first-round elimination at the World Cup.

India, runners-up in the last edition, crashed out in the Caribbean last week after losing two out of three group matches, to Bangladesh and former champions Sri Lanka.

Irate fans in the cricket-crazy country have demanded the axe fall on Dravid and coach Greg Chappell.

"He is an experienced campaigner and has all the leadership qualities," Vengsarkar told national daily Times of India on Wednesday.

Vengsarkar recalled former Australia captain Richie Benaud's comments on the role of the captain: "Captaincy is 90 percent luck and 10 percent ability."

"He (Dravid) has done quite well thus far. After all, as they say, a captain is only as good as his team."

Vengsarkar said the defeat to Bangladesh was a one-off.

"I feel Bangladesh played its best cricket in that match. I am positive if India plays Bangladesh in the future, it will win nine out of 10 matches.

"But nobody knows what will happen in that one match. That's the uncertainty of cricket. Whatever the Bangladeshis did in that match clicked."

The Indian cricket board is to analyse the national team's World Cup performance at a meeting next week.

The team, winners in 1983, had been touted as one of the favourites and were expected to get to the semi-finals at least.

The seven-week World Cup, the first to be played in the Caribbean, culminates in the Barbados final on April 28.

The Cup: Complete Coverage

Would you like to join the Cricket and Cricket Lovers Discussion Group and discuss your cricket views with other cricket freaks? Click here. Have fun!


© Copyright 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
 Email this Article      Print this Article

© 2007 Rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Feedback