Wasim Akram backs Shastri amidst Dravid rumors

After former India captain and U-19 coach Rahul Dravid was heavily linked with the job, Wasim Akram has come out in support of his Shaz-Waz partner. "I have come across reports that Ravi Shastri's term has ended and the authorities were mulling bringing a new coach. I think, if Shastri is willing, he should be in the hot seat," asserted Akram in an exclusive column for Bengali daily Ebela.

With India unable to convert their “favorites” tag to the “champions” tag, Akram believes the setback was more felt because the team played in front of the home crowd. "None of the teams from the sub-continent could reach the final of the WT20. For Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his boys the setback is all the more as they were being considered hot favourites on home soil," Akram opined.

India who went in to the World Cup with 10 wins in their last 11 games, had established themselves well under Ravi Shastri. "The Indians have whitewashed Australia in T20. More importantly, one can again see the Indian team being moulded into a fighting unit which is not loathe to look at the opponents eye to eye," he said.

"I don't know what the Indian cricket administrators are thinking. But I will be surprised if Shastri is removed," concluded the 49-year old.