INDIA/PAKISTAN: CRICKET: No replacement for Sachin yet in India, says former Pak captain Imran Khan

Record ID: 1372213

  • Title: INDIA/PAKISTAN: CRICKET: No replacement for Sachin yet in India, says former Pak captain Imran Khan
  • Date: 23rd April 2007
  • Summary: LAHORE, PAKISTAN (APRIL 19, 2007) (REUTERS) PAKISTAN CAPTAIN SHOAIB MALIK AT A NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 8th May 2007 10:40
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVABL3BD5KA9OBV72S1G3FBYT5CS
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan said on Saturday (April 21) India lacked a replacement for master batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who has been dropped from the one- day series in Bangladesh next month.
    "You should not drop someone unless a replacement has been found. The question is, Is there a replacement to Sachin? If there is, drop Sachin. No player is indispensable, but is your domestic cricket producing players that can replace Sachin? I do not think so," Khan told reporters on the sidelines of a conclave in New Delhi.
    Indian selectors said on Friday that Tendulkar, along with senior batsman Sourav Ganguly, had been "rested" for the one-day series. They have, however, been picked for the test series on the tour.
    A large section of the Indian media has interpreted the decision as an axe on the former greats in view of widespread public criticism after India's shock first- round exit from the 2007 World Cup.
    The then coach Greg Chappell accused Tendulkar and Ganguly of polarizing the team, in a report submitted to India's cricket board.
    Tendulkar was then asked to explain a statement he had earlier made to a news channel, allegedly against Chappell.
    Indian selectors have picked a slew of youngsters for the Bangladesh tour, many of whom would be making their debut.
    Pakistan led India out of the World Cup, losing to minnows Ireland and crashing out of the first round itself.
    Few days later coach Bob Woolmer was found murdered in his hotel room.
    In the gloomy aftermath of the twin shocks, Pakistan tries to rebuild its team as it looks out for a new coach.
    Much debate has raged in the two countries over the idea of a foreign coach.
    Detractors point to how Chappell did not communicate well with the team, and how Woolmer could not cope with a cricket culture too intense and twined with money and corruption.
    Khan said too much was being made out of the 'outsider' issue.
    "First of all the job of a foreign coach has to be defined. Unless he himself takes the field, what can he do except make strategy? It's the strategy on which he should be evaluated. If you hold him responsible for wins and losses, does that mean Australia's prowess is because of its coach? The coach has a very limited role. I don't even know who the Australian coach is, or if Australia will start losing if he is replaced," he said.
    Reports said Pakistan is looking at former Indian coach, New Zealander John Wright as a possible replacement. A couple of days back all- rounder Shoaib Malik was named captain after Inzamam-ul-Haq resigned.
    Khan was reserved about his opinion on the Pakistan Cricket Board's choice of captain.
    "Shoaib is an intelligent cricketer but it remains to be seen whether the responsibility of leadership affects him positively or negatively. Some people don't take to it too well. So only time will tell," he said.
    Twenty-five year-old Shoaib, who has played in 18 tests and 137 one-day internationals, was handed the role until the end of the year for the test and one-day squads.
    His first assignment is expected to be a three-match one-day series against Sri Lanka next month.
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