Date:25/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/25/stories/2006092509681900.htm

Sport - Cricket

Shastri criticises Dravid

Dubai: Indian skipper Rahul Dravid has come under flak from former all-rounder Ravi Shastri who said it was time he asserted himself and called the shots instead of coach Greg Chappell.

``It's time Dravid exerted himself and told Chappell that in future he will call the shots,'' Shastri said in the wake of India's debacle in the cricket tri-series in Malaysia.

``A coach must only help the captain but the final decision must rest with Dravid. He should decide who should bat at No. 3 and not the coach,'' he was quoted as saying by the Gulf News on Sunday.

He said Dravid should be allowed to field an eleven of his choice. ``Dravid should stand up and say that he is the boss and that he controls matters once he crosses the boundary line. He should get an eleven of his choice,'' he said.

Shastri also slammed Chappell's experiments with the batting orders of Virender Sehwag and Dravid, which he said put paid to India's chances in the tri-series. ``It's time Chappell stopped his experiments . I cannot understand how he could send Sehwag at No. 4. I will always prefer Sehwag as an opener. If he gets going even three out of 10 times, it would bring victory ,'' he said. — PTI