Wasim Akram says India need Rahul Dravid’s solidity and experience in one day internationals as well.

Prateek Srivastava
 
Even as Team India, packed with youngsters, take on New Zealand in a must-win tri-series ODI on Wednesday, former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram feels Rahul Dravid should be called back into the Indian ODI team.
 
Mohd Yousuf’s ODI recall to Pakistan team Tuesday must have been on Akram’s mind when he remarked: “Dravid still has a lot to offer in ODIs. I believe Dravid should be brought back into the team. In the sub-continent, the current batsmen can do well, but on overseas tours, India need a solid and experienced batsman like Dravid.” 
 
Akram also clarified that he did not call the entire Indian team “softies and lazy” as reported by an Indian newspaper Tuesday. “I was not talking about the whole team. I was only talking about the bowlers,” he said.
 
He continued: “Look at Munaf Patel, Sreesanth, Irfan Pathan and RP Singh. They all were very promising in the beginning. They had everything a bowler needs. Now you look at them. They have waned, for reasons beyond me.”
 
The ESPN Star Sports commentator suspects it is too many matches between India and Sri Lanka of late that has made Team India look sapping.
 
“There is a series between these two teams every two months. It is very natural that the Indian players have lost interest in the contests. I am sure the same is the case with the Sri Lankan cricketers,” the 44-year-old said.
 
“Indian players are in the habit of playing in front of more or less 60, 000 people and now they are playing amidst almost empty stands. Obviously, their performance will get affected. They are a top team in both Tests and ODIs and only too much cricket is their undoing at the moment,” he concluded.

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