Akram calls on Dravid to stand up for teammates

Mumbai, June 5 (UNI) Surprised at Team India's decision to drop an in-form Ajit Agarkar for the Test series against West Indies and coach Greg Chappell's comments on Irfan Pathan's confidence level, former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram said it was high time that skipper Rahul Dravid stood up for his players.

''If a bowler has done well in one-dayers and has experience the I as captain would definitely prefer him over a bowler who has not played before,'' Akram said, referring to the inclusion of VRV Singh in the team at the expense of Agarkar, who bolwed well in the ODI series against West Indies.

''Rahul Dravid should stand up and back his players,'' he added.

Akram who is here on a promotional tour felt that the strategy of changing combinations after each match might be working but such a plan could never be effective in the long run.

''You can experiment for some months but not all the time because players need confidence and I am saying this from experience,'' he said.

Akram questioned Chappell's decision to drop Irfan Pathan for the first Test against the West Indies in Antigua and said it could havea negative impact on the bowler's morale.

''Why was Pathan dropped. Chappell says he is low in confidence and in such a situation the player should not be dropped. He should have been played,'' he said.

The former left-arm bowler, who took 414 wickets in 104 Test matches said there was no need for Pathan to be low as lean patches were a part and parcel of the game.

''Everyone goes through bad patches. I think he needs to be played if he is not injured,'' the former Test star said.

Akram also rejected suggestions that Pathan's poor form with the ball was having a bearing on his battig as well, saying performance with the bat could never affect a bowler.

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