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'Sachin's back problem is result of too much cricket'

Describing Sachin Tendulkar as "Mr India", former West Indies skipper Alvin Kallicharan expressed confidence that the Indian batting maestro will soon recover from his back problem to lead his country.

Kallicharan, however, was quick to say that Sachin's back injury is an offshoot of his carrying too much burden on his shoulders whenever India played cricket.

"Also, there is so much of cricket being played in the Indian subcontinent...Players are not machines and even machines break down if not used properly," he said.

Kallicharan, a batting sensation of the eighties, is in Dubai to coach budding cricketers.

He did not agree with a suggestion that Sachin did not play freely whenever he was burdened with captaincy. "You've got to have your best player as captain of the team and Sachin is the best."

Kallicharan said playing too much cricket always led to "mental torture" of the players, which is not good for any team.

Asked how he rated Sachin vis-a-vis Brian Lara, Kallicharan said: "Sachin is a right hander while Lara is a left-hander...It is difficult to compare them, but both are great players in their own right. Both have the capability and determination."

On the appointment of Kapil Dev as coach of the Indian cricket team for the next two years, Kallicharan said, "Kapil has already shown his qualities as a player. He's got to be mentally strong."

He added: "If Kapil develops a positive attitude, which he displayed as a player, and the boys follow that, they should be on the right track."

Kallicharan spoke highly about new West Indian batting hero Ricardo Powell. "I saw his batting against India recently. If he continues like this, he has a bright future and we have got something to look forward to," he said.

About his new assignment as a coach, Kallicharan said he will concentrate on making the youngsters disciplined, and developing confidence in them. "I will not be coaching the players but only talking to them. I will make them hungry to achieve certain things in cricket."

Kallicharan said cricketers in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the West Indies were born with natural talent, which, unfortunately, was not developed.

He had a word of praise for the young Kenyan side. "Give them five-six years with proper structure and Kenya will produce a ten times better team."

Hayat Yar Khan of the Dubai Cricket Council (DCC) disclosed that the great Indian spinner Erapalli Prasanna will be coaching cricketers in Dubai in December. The youngsters will also receive coaching lessons from former South African coach Bob Woolmer and former Pakistani opener Mudassar Nazar next year.

UNI