Beleaguered Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin has insisted that he will not step down despite his team being on the verge of being knocked out of the world cup.

Azharuddin told reporters: “I am still the world cup captain and the immediate aim is to see that we beat both Pakistan and New Zealand in our remaining matches.”

“After that, it is up to the selectors. They made me captain; only they can remove me from it.
“I still have some years of cricket left in me. If they want me out, so be it. I will not go on my own,” added the 36-year-old.

Azharuddin once again came under fire for inviting Australia to bat on a good wicket, even though India don’t have a reputation for chasing one-day targets.

In the 1996 World Cup also Azhar was slammed for putting Sri Lanka in on a deteriorating Eden Gardens wicket in Calcutta before India collapsed batting second to lose the semi-final.

Azharuddin, who conceded after the semi-final defeat three years ago that he was wrong to field first, however, maintains he was right this time.

“The wicket was covered for two days because of rain and the moisture would help the seamers,” he said. “It was not a negative decision.”

Azharuddin’s own poor form has not helped India's cause. He has failed to produce a big score at the world cup.

His growing band of critics did not fail to notice that he held himself back in the batting order against Australia and sent vice- captain Ajay Jadeja instead.

Jadeja, tipped as his likely successor in the one-day hot seat, went on to make an unbeaten century. Azharuddin managed only three before being scalped by Glenn McGrath.

The normally well-mannered captain lost his cool when reporters questioned him about his future. “The criticism of my captaincy has been unfair,” he said. “The captain is only as good as his team.”

Azharuddin acknowledged that his own batting form had hit rock bottom but it was wrong to lay the blame for India’s defeats on him alone.

“Eleven players play the game and the captain is just one of them,” he said. “We simply did not play up to our potential but to blame the captain alone is not done.”

Azharuddin said McGrath's opening spell, which saw India slip to 17 for four, would have defeated most teams.

“We did not bat well because McGrath did not allow us to,” he said. “He was too good for us, just as would have been for others. We must accept that.”

The troubled Indian captain was, however, certain India would recover from the loss in time to face Pakistan with confidence.

---