From: sidi@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Sadiq Yusuf)
Subject: In condemnation ( was Re: AZZA RETAINED
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois.
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 03:15:53 GMT

In article <C0pCpu.G3u@ns1.nodak.edu> ksrao@power.ee.ndsu.nodak.edu writes:
>
>     Azzaruddin is retained as Captain of the Indian team for the first three
>games against England. He will be reconsidered after that for the remainder of
>the England tour. It appears Kapil and Tendulkar were also considered for
>skippering the team. The team is not yet announced.
>
>

	Well, the selectors are at it again ! They seemed to have taken a
turn for the better with their team selection for the SA tour ( regardless
of the fact that we lost, it was with a couple of exceptions our best team
). But now they've slipped back into their bad old ways.
	First of all, many of the netters know that Iam a Azhar fan, so it
isn't that surprising that I wanted Azhar kept on. To me, he isn't a great
captain by any stretch of the imagination. But he _is_ adequate. And I like
a lot of his ideas, ideas that I haven't seen from too many Indian captains
in the past. But most important, I dont see too many possible replacement -
Kapil is the only one and he is getting on a bit. Note that his
performances were not up to expectations in this series either. 
	  Most importantly, I think  we ought to look at our
results in context. Since 1979, India has won exactly 3 test matches
outside its shores. We've won precisely ONE single solitary test series.
Our record outside of India has been worse than abysmal under _everyone_
who ever captained us. And, so far, Azhar is being judged entirely on the
basis of the teams performances abroad. He's captained only 1 test at home,
one OD series, and the Asia Cup - and he won them all ( the single test,
the ODI series v/s SL 2-1, and the devalued Asia Cup). Before axing him,
I'd personally give him a chance to captain a series at home. If he fails
again, it would be more than fair to take away the captaincy. 
	So, what have the selectors done ?? The worst possible thing that
they could have done !! I wouldn't have been happy to see Azhar dropped,
but I could accept it. If the break is to be made, t'were best it be made
quickly. Bring in Kapil and be done with it. Lets go out and try to win
the test series. Instead, they retain Azhar as captain - but for 2 ODI's
and a test !! Duuh !!! ?? All they achieve is increased pressure on a
captain, less authority for the captain due to his decreased security and
possible lame-duck stature ( and this to a captain who is criticised for
being too mild anyway !) and most likely an increased likelyhood of team
dissension (and when did an Indian team ever need that opportunity?) 
	Well, if Azhar wins all the games, we know he'll be retained for
the series. But, pray, what happens if he wins the test and loses the
ODI's?? What if he wins the ODI's and loses the test ?? Do we finally get
to see which the board sees as being of greater importance ?? What if the
test is drawn and the first 2 ODIs are split ?? Is the avoidance of a loss
equivalent to a win for Azhar, personally at least ?? The possibilities are
endless !!
	And for the rest. I believe it's a terrible policy to talk about
who else was considered - especially since the appointment is temporary. It
could well have the effect of polarizing the team into camps once again -
not something any of us wants to see. Anyway. As for the contenders
mentioned, Kapil is a given. But Sachin ?? I mean, give me a break !! And
more importantly, give the kid a break ! Don't fool around with the most
talented kid to emerge in a generation !! He's still a teenager for crying
out loud !! And, while hes been terrific at all cricket-related activities
so far,do we just assume he'll be great at captaincy as well ?? Isn't
experience a factor at all ?? Sachin hasn't even served as VC to the Bombay
side, or even his club side ( CCI . When CCI played, they had Jaideep
Mathur captain despite SRT's presence ). Heck, Iam fairly sure he didn't
captain his College side ( Kirti. Too junior, I'd presume ). Maybe, just
maybe, he captained Sardashram at School's cricket. Not exactly the sort
of recommendation for matching a 38 year old professional in guile !!  
	You know, it's amazing how badly the Board can screw up without
even really trying !! Some of these instances ought to be preserved in
museums, they're really works of art !! 

		Sadiq [ furious at selectorial fatheadedness ] Yusuf




>K. Sankara Rao                          e-mail k.srao@power.eee.ndsu.nodak.edu
>
>Department of Electrical Engineering
>Fargo, ND 58105  USA
>
>Phone:  (701)237-7217  (o)
>        (701)235-9912  (h)