Sacking Dhoni as Pune captain a third-rate decision: Azhar
Former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin has criticised the Rising Pune Supergiants franchise for MS Dhoni's removal as captain of the team. "The decision and manner of execution was third-rate and disgraceful. Dhoni has been a jewel in Indian cricket," said Azharuddin. "Belittling Indian sporting legends like Dhoni through corporate board-rooms is stooping down to the lowest," Azhar added.
Former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin has lashed out at the Rising Pune Supergiants franchise for sacking Mahendra Singh Dhoni as captain of the team for the upcoming tenth season of the Indian Premier League."The decision and manner of execution was third-rate and disgraceful. Dhoni has been a jewel in Indian cricket, he has won almost everything in the 8-9 years of his captaincy and even though the franchise can say they run the team with their own money, shouldn't they have seen Dhoni's stature and credibility before first stripping him of captaincy and then not even letting Dhoni the grace? I feel angry and sad as a former cricketer," Azhar told Aaj Tak. (Dhoni as Indian Premier League skipper: Two titles, 83 wins)(WATCH VIDEO HERE) Dhoni was replaced with Australian captain Steve Smith and the Pune franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka had said the team needed a young captain with vision and zest to lead them in the IPL this year.Goenka also made it a point to emphasise and re-emphasise that "Dhoni himself had no say in the decision and that he was sacked" after the team had finished seventh last year - incidentally the first of the two years the franchise has been permitted to stay in the IPL. (Dhoni was cooperation personified with captaincy change: Pune Supergiants owner Sanjiv Goenka to India Today)Azhar came down heavily on the Pune owners for shifting all the blame to Dhoni. "What will a captain do when the team doesn't play well? If Dhoni wasn't a good and an inspirational captain would he have won two IPL titles (leading Chennai Super Kings)? Belittling Indian sporting legends like Dhoni through corporate board rooms is stooping down to the lowest," Azhar said. (MS Dhoni and Steve Smith's batting records for Rising Pune Supergiants)