Dravid's omission dividing management

Mumbai:

Dropping former captain Rahul Dravid from the first two ODIs against Pakistan has exposed the faultlines within the Indian cricket establishment.

At the one end, Chairman of Selectors Dilip Vengsarkar said that the decision was about giving Dravid a break while picking a winning team.

"Well we had discussed about it. We decided to give him a break for a while. We have picked a winning team," said Dilip Vengsarkar, Chairman of Selectors, BCCI.

However, India's cricket manager has told NDTV that he was shocked by the decision taken by the selectors. He says that he didn't know why Dravid was dropped.

"I do not know what is the policy and why the selectors have dropped him. I am sure they have their reasons. But he is a class player and we will miss him," said Lalchand Rajput, Manager, Indian team.

It is now an open battle between Vengsarkar and Rajput.

Even Kiran More, the man who held the position just before Vengsarkar, has lambasted the committee for what he sees as a decision defying logic.

Several current players too have told NDTV in confidence that they are shocked to see such a senior player being treated in such a shoddy manner.

The critics include Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting.

"I was quite surprised. He's done very well for India," Ricky Ponting, Captain, Australian Cricket Team said 10 days ago when Dravid was made to sit out in the India-Australia Mumbai ODI.

However, Pakistani cricketers are not complaining. Shoaib Akhtar has gone on record saying that with Dravid out, Pakistan has one major worry off its shoulders.

And Dravid exclusion could well be Vengsarkar's no ball, which may give Pakistan a free hit.