Kapil Dev flays Indian team, questions commitment

Cricket icon Kapil Dev Sunday lambasted the Indian team and said that lack of commitment, drive and balance led to its virtual exit from the World Cup in the West Indies.

Expressing utter disappointment over Team India's disastrous performance, Kapil said: "Overconfidence caused the downfall of the Indian team in the tournament opener against Bangladesh."

"I think there was a lack of commitment, drive and balance. I found them overconfident in the first match," Kapil said when asked about India's shocking performance.

"I know, all over India, fans are angry. I am also disappointed. On behalf of the cricketers, I say sorry to the fans. These things happen in sports. We need to find out the reasons. And I think we need to work hard," he said.

"They need to be criticised. But it is not right to burn their posters or tar their photographs or damage their houses. How can you so quickly forget the runs scored by Sourav (Ganguly), Sachin (Tendulkar) and Rahul (Dravid) all these years?"

Kapil said the cricketers deserved to be "criticised", but appealed that the fans should not tread the territory of vandalism.

"When we fail in life, do we chop off our own hands or damage our homes?" he asked.

Kapil, however, refused to comment on the retirement of senior players.

"Who am I to say when Sourav or Sachin should retire? It is their choice. So they will decide."

Asked whether Dravid should be sacked as skipper, he said: "If you now ask people, everyone will say yes. But everyone was saying that Dravid is a very good captain when India made a world record by winning 17 consecutive matches while chasing.

"The problem is you ask questions based on the latest happening. But I look at things from an overall perspective. Let the team come back, then such things can be decided."

Kapil also opposed any criticism of players' endorsement deals.

"Corporates only look for players who are performing. The companies do not look for players who have been dropped. Players also know that they need to perform. And I urge everyone not to look at players' pockets," he said.

"And also, do not compare what players of earlier years were getting with the amount of money earned by current players," Kapil added.

The former all-rounder expressed his shock at the murder of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer.

"Some bad men have sneaked into the game along with good men, it seems," Kapil said.

(IANS)

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