Akram Comments

RP Singh’s inclusion in ODI squad is baffling: Akram

India’s left-arm seamer Rudra Pratap Singh’s inclusion in the squad for the limited overs series against England is baffling, feels former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram

“I wonder what is RP Singh doing in the ODI squad? He was totally off-colour in The Oval Test match and it will be a miracle if he can do something special in the ODIs,” Akram wrote in his column for ESPNStar.com.

However Akram was happy to find young Jharkhand speedster Varun Aaron in the squad.

“It was a good decision to include young Jamshedpur quickie, Varun Aaron, because India need fresh pair of legs in both batting and bowling,” he wrote.

Incidentally, Aaron’s bowling in the Kolkata Knight Riders (before he joined Delhi Daredevils) nets had impressed Akram who is their bowling coach.

Akram felt sorry watching an out of sorts Suresh Raina.

“It’s time for Raina to learn from his mistakes. He looked completely out of sorts in the Test series. It looked as if he did not know how to hold the bat, leave alone score some runs. It was extremely sad to see such a talented batsman struggling like this,” he commented.

He also had suggested that Indian team management should seek temporary services from Shane Warne.

“Mishra has a lot to learn. It may not be a bad idea for BCCI to hire someone like Shane Warne for some time and teach Mishra how to turn the ball better and with more control!”

England Tuor Of India Akram Comments

Can’t write off Dhoni after just two losses: Akram

Facing criticism after India conceded a 0-2 lead to England in the ongoing Test series, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has found much-needed support in Pakistan pace legend Wasim Akram, who feels he cannot be written off on the basis of a couple of defeats.

“You cannot write him off on the basis of two losses. He has won the World Cup for India and has also done well in most parts of the world. Yes, one thing that Dhoni needs to take care of, are his keeping skills. We can’t say that he has failed, rather we can just say that it is a wake-up call for him,” Akram told Mobile ESPN.

Many experts, including former India skipper Sourav Ganguly, have slammed Dhoni’s decision to bowl first in the second Test at Nottingham, which India lost by 319 runs, but Akram begs to differ.

“There was a lot of grass on the morning of day 1, so Dhoni went by his instincts and I believe he was right to bowl first. Everybody has an opinion but I feel, as a bowler, I would have loved to bowl on that track,” he said. “I think the ninth-wicket partnership between Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann made the difference, otherwise the move was going as per plan,” he added.

India is pinning their comeback hopes on the return of Virender Sehwag for the third Test in Birmingham starting on August 10 and Akram believes his presence will make a world of a difference.

“Sehwag’s presence will certainly bolster the Indian batting. He has not played cricket for a while but he is a kind of batsman who can be very dangerous. “Both Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir form an incredible opening duo for Team India. So I hope they are genuinely fit and help out the team,” said Akram.