E Rodrigopulle: Sad, the dropping of Azharuddin (12 May 1997)
The dropping of former Indian captain and batting sensation Mohammed Azharuddin from the squad to front up in the Independence Cup tourney in India was sad news indeed
12-May-1997
Monday 12, May 1997
Sports Comment: Sad, the dropping of Azharuddin
By Elmo Rodrigopulle
The dropping of former Indian captain and batting sensation
Mohammed Azharuddin from the squad to front up in the
Independence Cup tourney in India was sad news indeed.
To recap: before the World Cup semifinal between Sri Lanka and
India in Eden Gardens, Azharuddin was on the roll riding the
crest of the wave of success. Came that semi-final which India
had to forfeit to Sri Lanka and that opened floodgate of
troubles as it were for this stylish right handed batsman.
It was rumoured that Azharuddin has been asked to bat if he won
the toss in that day/night game. But as captain he was convinced
that India could put Sri Lanka in and beat them.
FUNNY GAME
It is said that cricket is a funny game and the game stayed with
the Lankans steaming ahead to a convincing victory. But crowd
misbehaviour stunted the proceedings and the match referee Clive
Lloyd, after having done his best to restart the game awarded
the game to Sri Lanka.
All Indians were hoping to see India in the World Cup final. And
they would have liked to see a Pakistan-India meeting. All that
went up in smoke with the Indians bowing out and then began the
chorus from all quarters for the removal of Azharuddin as
captain.
Before this great fall Azharuddin was the most successful Indian
captain. He always led from the front and his fielding close to
the bat against top batsmen where other fielders would have
feared, proved that he was leading by example.
THREE CENTURIES
Azharuddin first hit the cricket firmament by rattling three
centuries in a row against David Gower's Englishmen on his
debut. Runs began to flow from his bat from that point and it
was smooth sailing for this champion batsman.
In the wake of this success the Indian captaincy was not long in
coming. When it came he adorned it with great aplomb and mastery
and led the Indians to many a memorable victory.
Like many good captains, batsmen and bowlers he reached the top
but found it difficult to remain there. The downward slide began
with that dreaded night in Calcutta.
STRIPPED
Critics were crying for his blood. And they succeeded when he
was stripped as captain with another master batsman Sachin
Tendulkar taking over. However, the selectors did not dump him
but slotted him as a batsman.
Azharuddin succeeded for awhile, but the poor form in the
Caribbean on the recent tour prompted the selectors to say that
enough was enough and while the former master was indulging in
exhibition games in Bermuda he was kept out of the India squad
to play in the Independence Cup.
The selectors cannot be faulted for dropping Azharuddin. With so
many youngsters knocking on the door it would have been unfair
to have persisted with the out of form Azharuddin.
DISAPPOINTED
It is apparent that Azharuddin must be a disappointed man. But
at 33 it certainly is not the end of the road for him. If runs
begin to flow from his bat in the domestic tournaments, there is
no reason why he should not be brought back.
In the meantime it is nice to see the comeback of another
stylish left hander Vinod Kambli. Kambli is full of potential
and a treat to watch. One hopes he gets going in this tournament
and shows his class!
Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)