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MUMBAI : Former Pakistan Test captain and ESPN-STAR Sports expert
commentator Wasim Akram is unhappy with the way that the BCCI has
handled its senior players after the World Cup debacle. In an exclusive
interview to Mobile ESPN, Akram said: “It’s a joke the
way the BCCI is limiting players from signing endorsements. You
can’t be treating senior players like Sachin (Tendulkar) as
kids. If some senior players have advised the board to stop endorsements,
then it is wrong…the jealousy factor is very clear.”
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Akram said: “As I cricketer, I looked forward to playing for
my country. If you are good enough, endorsements will come. It’s
not the money but the recognition that matters. Of course, money
should not affect your game, but form and endorsements are not related.
Can you tell David Beckham that all your endorsements are being
withdrawn because you haven’t scored a goal in two years?”
“Financial stability is important for athletes. Cricket is
a mental game and a player will only perform only when he is mentally
comfortable that his efforts are being rewarded. The BCCI must rethink
its decision,” said Akram.
The Sultan of Swing, as Akram is popularly called, lauded the idea
to persist with Rahul Dravid as captain for the next three tours
starting with Bangladesh on May 10. “It’s a bold decision…The
couple of senior players who were dreaming to be captain again in
place of Dravid have been put in their places. Winning and losing
is part of the game and BCCI has taken a good decision to retain
Dravid.
“Dravid is a good captain and he is improving. He may be lacking
in confidence but he will get better. Under him, India will settle
down as a team. It might take a couple of years but eventually the
results will be good.”
Akram praised the BCCI for making Ravi Shastri the manager for
the Bangladesh tour. “Players like Ravi should be more actively
involved. Ravi is a players’ man, likeable and knows what to
do with players. His 15 years in the media will be an advantage.
Whatever happens, happens for the better and Ravi’s coming,
even for a short span, will help. May be in future, there is a bigger
role for him in Indian cricket.”
He may have been against him as coach of Team India, but Akram
said the decision to offer Greg Chappell the directorship of the
National Cricket Academy was brilliant. “So what if he failed
as Team India coach? Greg has a lot to offer. He is an organized
man and young players will learn Aussie aggression and passion from
him. Indian cricket needs the hunger for success and who better
than Greg to instill that?”
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