WHY was Mohammed Azharuddin dropped from the Indian team for the Independence Cup? One of the five national selectors told Outlook that Sachin Tendulkar and Madan Lal had insisted on dropping the former captain. "Sachin and Madan were determined to see Azhar out. They said they couldn't disclose the reasons over the phone and that they would tell us in Bangalore when the team landed," he said.
According to the selector, he had plumped for Azhar to be given a chance on home-soil during the prestigious tournament, but was shot down by the team management during the tele-conference. "They felt Azhar should be taught a lesson for his indifferent batting, and indifferent attitude during the tour. They said dropping him would serve as a warning to the others." Jadeja and Robin Singh are the 'others' to whom the warning is intended.
The selector's admission only confirms rumours that Sachin had had enough of Azhar's cavalier batting style on the West Indies tour which was no mean contributor to India's twin loss.
Sachin is said to have been especially peeved by Azhar's stroke in the third one-dayer when Dravid and Ganguly had paved the way for an Indian win. Azhar could also have been done in by the favoured treatment he received from Board president Raj Singh Dungarpur, who allowed Sangeeta Bijlani to stay on while all other wives were asked to leave.
But this may not be the end of the road for the 34-year-old. "There's a lot of cricket still left in him. He could even come back for the I-Cup finals if India makes it," promises the selector.
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