India can't handle its fast bowlers: Sohail | Cricket - Hindustan Times
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India can't handle its fast bowlers: Sohail

IANS | By, Trelawny (jamaica)
Mar 09, 2007 06:29 PM IST

Former Pak captain says India always depend on one fast bowler at a time resulting in that bowler bowling for long stretches at a time.

India's handling of its fast bowlers has come under sharp criticism from former Pakistan captain Aamer Sohail.

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"India does not know how to handle its fast bowlers," Sohail said while commenting on the India-Netherlands warm-up match here, which India comfortable won by 182 runs. "First they relied on Kapil Dev, then (Javagal) Srinath, after that Zahir Khan, Irfan Pathan and now Sreesanth."

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Sohail said that India always depended on one fast bowler at a time resulting in that bowler bowling for long stretches at a time.

"If he (Irfan Pathan) continues to bowl like this, he will find it hard to get his place in the side," Sohail said even as Dutch opener, veteran Bus Zuiderant, scored a four in Pathan's first over.

Pathan, who scored a quickfire 25 off 21 balls to help India to the 300-run mark after a five-wicket haul by Dutch bowler Ryan ten Doeschate, came under criticism from Sohail even as he spearheaded the Indian attack on a slow Trelawny track.

Lahore-born southpaw Sohail was blunt in his assessment that Pathan's batting cannot redeem his current bowling form.

Famous for taunting Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad in a 1996 World Cup quarter-final match in front of a Bangalore crowd, Sohail was, however, fulsome in his praise for S Sreesanth.

Stating that Sreesanth was a quick learner, Sohail, who played 47 Tests and 156 one-dayers for Pakistan, said, "Whenever he came after a long layoff, I always found him better."

Sreesanth had bowled a maiden in his first over after Sohail's comments.

Sohail made his comments with Windies pace legend Michael Holding accompanying him in the commentary box.

Sreesanth and Pathan picked a wicket each while Yuvraj Singh was the pick of the bowlers scalping four wickets as the orange-hued team from continental Europe were all out for 118 in reply to India's 300 for nine in 50 overs in the warm-up tie at the newly built Trelawny Stadium, venue of the March 11 inaugural ceremony of cricket's biggest showpiece.

Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, with individual half centuries, had steadied the Indian boat after the side was tottering at 82 for three following Netherlands' decision to bowl first after winning the toss.

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