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Internet Desk: Anil Kumble was backed by former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin on his decision to quit as the head coach of the Indian National team. Azhar claimed that Kumble’s decision had been a correct decision on his self interest.
Kumble quit from his post two days after India lost to arch-rivals Pakistan in the fibals of ICC Champions trophy claiming his partnership with Virat Kohli to be “untenable”.
“I feel very sad for him. It is sad that something like this happened to Anil. Knowing Anil, I don’t think he is that type of a person. Maybe he thought it is better to be away than losing your self-respect. I think he took the right decision,” Azharuddin said.
The former skipper, who led India in three ODI World Cups – 1992, 1996 and 1999 – was speaking to reporters at the pre-launch event of 3D mobile game Azhar – the Captain, by Hyderabad based firm BigCode Games.
Azharuddin also begs to differ with current head coach Ravi Shastri, who had recently said that Indian teams of past 20 years have not achieved as much as this current lot has.
“The Indian team in those days were different to the team now so it is unfair to compare. He (Shastri) was also part of the team in those days so he is also including himself. The bowlers were different, the opposition teams were different so it is difficult to compare between the two eras,” he said.
Almost five years after the Andhra Pradesh High Court has quashed all charges of match-fixing against him, Azharuddin is yet to receive his pending from the BCCI.
Azharuddin’s case came up for discussion on Wednesday during a meeting between BCCI office-bearers and Committee of Administrators, where it decided to refer the matter to the Board’s general body.
“My expectations are positive because I never think negative. The letter that I sent to the Board it has been put in the agenda of the meeting so that means they are serious about it. I am hoping this case is resolved at the earliest and we move ahead,” Azharuddin said.
“I never had a problem with BCCI. Obviously when I got the ban I had to defend myself, that is the only thing other than that there is nothing against the Board,” said Azharuddin, who has been banned for life by the BCCI for his involvement in match-fixing.
Two days back, S Sreesanth’s life ban was revoked by the Kerala High Court.
Asked about the case, Azharuddin said, “I think if the court order has come then they have to follow it. He has lost four years but Sreesanth will have to bring his fitness up to the required standards. He will have to put in good performances.
“According to me, Sreesanth was one of the finest fast bowlers but I think he was not handled properly. If he was handled better, he would have turned out to be a good fast bowler. If you see very few bowlers could manage to land the ball on the seam as he did, so he was very good.”
“The BCCI will have to take a positive decision (on Sreesanth) if the court has given an order,” he added.