ODI SERIES
We lose the first ODI after being bowled out for 185. But, come back strongly in the second, bowling out South Africa for 171. However, in the third, we chase 273 on a turning Mumbai wicket and fall 17 short.
SHOCK LOSS in the series 2-1.
THE REPERCUSSION
I am furious at this loss. I call Dravid to my office and shout at him for the bad field placements and bowling changes. He apologises but points out that it is his first series loss as captain. I am even more furious at this and tell him that I want his resignation or else he would be sacked and his career as batsman would also be over.
He decides not to take me on. We agree that he will resign as ODI captain immediately but will remain test captain for a year or so, until I decide to replace him. In the meantime he will continue as player in the ODI team.
THE END OF AN ERA: DRAVID STEPS DOWN FROM ODI CAPTAINCY
CricketIndia
Indian cricket has come to the end of an era. Rahul Dravid announced that he was stepping down from the captaincy of the Indian ODI Cricket team today. He said he was dissapointed by the recent loss to South Africa and was taking full responsibility and stepping down as a result. He will continue to remain captain of the test team.
Rahul Dravid has been one of the most successful captains, the Indian team has ever had. He has taken the team to test series victories against all test playing nations away from home and has won the World Cup for only the second time for India.
Asked if he had been under pressure from the manager, he said "No, not at all. She was very supportive. I decided to quit of my own accord following our performance against South Africa." When asked how long he would continue playing, Dravid replied that he would go on as long as the management wanted him to. Asked about the test captaincy, he offered no comment.
The manager, Asma Khan said, "Dravid has been India's best ever captain and his captaincy will be missed. However, we must move on and I will appoint a captain for the ODI's who can hopefully lead us into the World Cup."
The Indian team go to South Africa to play three tests and three ODI's after
which they face Pakistan at home.
LAXMAN DROPPED FROM SA TOUR; KAIF IS ODI CAPTAIN
The manager of the Indian team, Asma Khan sprang two major surprises today. In a major surprise Mohammed Kaif was appointed captain of the ODI team ahead of vice-captain Virender Sehwag. Asma Khan said, "Kaif has shown immense character in all kinds of situatons and is the right man for the captaincy. Sehwag is already 30 and I was looking for a captain who will be there in the long run." Asked if he would be test captain as well once Dravid hangs up his boots, considering that he has played just 9 tests so far, Asma Khan was non-commital. She said she would evaluate the situation as and when it arose. Sehwag will continue to be vice-captain. Asked if he was expecting to become the captain, Sehwag replied that he was happy to be the vice-captain of the Indian team.
The other surprise sprung by the same woman is the omission of V.V.S.Laxman from the touring party to South Africa. Justifying this decision, Asma Khan said, "I decided to go in with young exciting prospects like Wasim Rasheed. Venugopal and Gambhir deserved to keep their places. I had to make a choice and although Laxman has contributed immensely to Indian cricket over the years, I had to make the choice." Irfan Pathan gets a recall who along with Sharma, Gagandeep Singh and Zaheer Khan will make up the seam quartet. Kumble, Harbhajan and Acharya are the three spinners."
The touring party in full is:
Dravid(C - test), Sehwag, Tendulkar, Yuvraj, Kaif(C - ODI), Rao, W.Rasheed, Gambhir, Deshpande, Kumble, Harbhajan, Acharya, Powar, Zaheer, Pathan, Sharma, Gagandeep Singh, Rowland. Manager:Asma Khan
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Rasheed scores a hundred in the first class game and I pick him for the first test.
I TEST
I play Sehwag, Rowland, Dravid, Tendulkar, Rasheed, Kaif, Deshpande, Sharma, Gagandeep, Kumble, Harbhajan.
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