Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram defended Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni saying that he is still the "right choice" for Indian captaincy but he needs to be "more flexible in his tactics", says a report in Deccan Herald.
Dhoni has been criticized heavily for India’s poor show in the ongoing Test series.
"I am positive that Dhoni is the right choice to remain as captain, but he has to be more flexible in his tactics.
“”You cannot throw the ball to a novice like Ravichandran Ashwin, like Dhoni did in Kolkata, and expect him to produce miracles. India and Dhoni, in particular, are lacking a Plan B when situations get tough, where they have seemed content in containing rather than attacking.
"If the team management feels that a policy of split-captaincy would release the pressure on Dhoni, then may be there is a need for change. But personally I would still have Dhoni over next-in-line Virat Kohli, who is too young to lead Team India," he added.
Meanwhile, The Times of India report says that Akram criticised left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan and said he looked unfit during the series.
"The on-going transition within the Indian squad has seen pace spearhead Zaheer Khan axed from the side after picking up just four wickets in three Tests versus England so far.
"Despite skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni publicly backing Zaheer, saying he was bowling in the right areas, it has been his alarming lack of pace that has left the English batsmen untroubled," he said.
"It seems to me that Zaheer's main problem stems from his fitness levels. His run-up is slow and lethargic while his follow-through is almost non-existent. Compare this to the English pacers,James Anderson and Steven Finn. They bowled their hearts out every delivery, constantly touched speeds of 140 kmph,” he added.
