Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin feels that current skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni lacks “a bit of intelligence” when it comes to leading the side in Test cricket, and that there should be different captains for the three formats of the game. “He (Dhoni) has always been a very good captain in ODIs and Twenty20s but in Test cricket, he lacks a bit of intelligence. Maybe when it comes to taking instant on—field decisions,” Azhar, who is here to lead the Indian MPs in a friendly match against British MPs, told PTI in an interview.
“So, I feel that he is very much suited for ODIs and T20s, but not for Test matches. I honestly believe that there should be three different captains for three formats,” he said. “He is a very good player. Maybe, when he doesn’t have captaincy pressure on him, he might play differently. I think, it’s very hard for anyone to say whether he is able to justify his place in the Test team or not, but since he is a captain, you have to respect that.”
Asked about the Test series whitewashes against England and Australia respectively, he said, “Lack of confidence and lack of preparation were the key reasons. We did badly because the ball swung a lot in those conditions.” The Hyderabad—batsman of yesteryears feels that Rohit Sharma should be an ideal replacement for Rahul Dravid in the Test team.
“Rohit Sharma should play,” was Azhar’s answer to the query. “He (Rohit) is a talented cricketer and should be given a chance to play in all formats. Another good player is Virat Kohli, but he is already playing (Test cricket), which is a big bonus.” Azhar refused to blame the Indian Premier League for talk that youngsters develop faulty techniques, and do not put enough emphasis on the longer version.
“Twenty20 and Test cricket are two different formats. It’s not justified to blame the T20 or for that matter the IPL for the decline in quality of youngsters in Test cricket, because the players are different for T20s and Test matches. “It should not serve as an excuse when you are not performing well. If you are a good player, you should quickly adapt to different formats. Good cricketers perform well in every format.”
A few months back, the veteran of 99 Tests was struck by the personal tragedy of losing his younger son Mohammed Ayazuddin in an accident. Asked about his elder son Abbas (Asaduddin), he said, “At the moment, he is injured. He has got a tennis elbow and is recovering from that. He has got a lot of talent. He started the game a bit late, but he has got a lot of talent.”
Bats for Dharamsala Azharuddin said that the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium should start hosting Test matches, as it is not just a beautiful venue but also has all required facilities. “HPCA should host Tests, apart from One—dayers and T20s. The stadium has got a beautiful setting, all the facilities are available here,” said Azhar.
“I believe that after Newlands in Cape Town (South Africa) and Pukekura Park in New Plymouth (New Zealand), this is another picturesque venue,” he added. The HPCA stadium, with a capacity of around 20,000, overlooks the snow-capped Dauladhar mountain range. “The pleasant weather and scenic locations make it a perfect ground to host international matches,” said Azhar.
