Akram Blames Dhoni for India Exit

Former Pakistan captain, Wasim Akram, believes that Mahendra Singh Dhoni should carry the can for India’s failure at the World Twenty20.

India won four of their five matches in Sri Lanka but fell at the Super Eight stage, with Australia and bitter rivals, Pakistan, qualifying for the last four by virtue of superior run rates.

Dhoni’s side looked set to enjoy a successful tournament after they hammered England in Colombo. The reigning champions had no answer to India’s spinners – Harbhajan Singh leading the way with 4-12.

The off-spinner missed the cut in India’s final group match against South Africa, who, like England, are vulnerable to spin. Akram told the news sport that India failed to get the balance of their team right in the crunch encounter.

“I am puzzled with the way the Indian team management has picked playing XIs. For example, I feel a wicket-taking bowler like Harbhajan Singh was missed against the ragged South Africans on Tuesday night,” the former all-rounder told ESPNStar.com.

India won the match by one run but paid the price for a heavy defeat by Australia in their Super Eight opener. Akram felt India lacked the necessary firepower to go all the way in the competition.

“A team is world class only when it is complete in every respect. India’s batting is one of the strongest in the world, but if you are expecting Zaheer Khan or a Balaji to win you a tight match every day, think again,” he added.

Betting fans now turn their attentions to India’s four-Test series against England, which begins next month. India will be desperate to avenge a humiliating 4-0 defeat on English soil last year, a victory which saw England leapfrog India at the top of the Test world rankings.

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