Gavaskar tells Dhoni take a break

NEW DELHI: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has called for the present captain MS Dhoni to take a break from helming the side in all 3 formats and named the young batsmen Virat Kohli as a likely replacement.

It's still early days as far as 2015 World Cup is worried but I think that a break in captaincy will do wonder for MS.Dhoni. I am not saying that it has to happen during the middle of a series but may be after the Australia series or later part of 2013. We need to have a look at that, Gavaskar said.

The break might be an unpaid one or an enforced break. But he needs time to reflect on his game and come back in a better way. I am very impressed in the manner he remnants cool and unlike other skipper doesn't clap and all but a little break won't be bad. Captain India is a high freedom but the demands and pressures that come with it are incredible, he added.

Gavaskar went a step further, likening the 24-year-old Kohli to the deceased Mansur Ali Khan – India’s youngest Test captain at 21 – saying the Delhi batsman could bring the flair of Tiger Pated in his captaincy.

I could be wrong but Virat Kohli might bring the flair of Tiger Pated in his captaincy. If he knows that he will be appointed for long term, he has the dynamism, the aggression, panache and class. I like all about him apart from his mouthing abuses when he reaches a highlight. I don't want him to change something else as he can bring a lot of dynamism.

Asked if Dhoni was good enough to justify a place on the team as only a player, Gavaskar answered, Why not? He can be part of the team for the next couple of years as he is a match-winner.

The veteran Indian opener was of the opinion that an Indian should coach the national team, now that Duncan Fletcher's contract was unlikely to be changed after the Australia series. He also hinted that the man in the hot seat should be a former cricketer with vast experience.

I would like it to be an Indian coach or somebody who is like Gary Kirsten. Kirsten had scored lots of runs in ODI and Tests and bring along a sure work ethic as he had done it all. If you have a winner cricketer, he can help you get better.

Darren Sammy Helped. WI Won 4th match

Dhaka: Darren Sammy hit a fighting half-century and then grabbed three early wickets to help the West Indies beat Bangladesh by 75 runs in the fourth one-day international in Dhaka on Friday.

The 28-year-old scored an unbeaten 60 to take the tourists, after they were put into bat, to 211-9, and his impressive bowling was central to an attack that saw the home team out for 136 in 34.1 overs at Shere Bangla stadium.

The victory meant the five-match series is now level at 2-2, setting up a high-stakes final showdown on Saturday. Sammy rocked the home team by dismissing Anamul Haque (1) with the fourth delivery of the second over and then had Nadeem Islam (nought) caught out on the next ball to leave the home team reeling at 3-2.

Pace partner Kemar Roach (2-29) then struck further blows on the home team by bowling Tamim Iqbal (1) and Nasir Hossain (2) in the third over. Sammy then piled on the pain, taking the wicket of Mominul Haque (1) in the sixth over to leave the hosts at 13-5.

Mohammad Mahmudullah, who remained unbeaten on 56, added an invaluable 74 runs for the sixth wicket with captain Mushfiqur Rahim (27) but once the partnership was broken by Sunil Narine all was lost for the home team.

Mahmudullah hit seven boundaries in his fighting 78-ball stay at the crease. Veerasammy Permaul and Dwayne Smith also chipped in with 2 wickets apiece. Earlier, Bangladeshi spinners Mahmudullah (3-46), Elias Sunny (2-21) and Abdur Razzak (2-47) derailed the West Indian innings in the middle overs after the tourists were cruising along well at 71-1.

Dashing West Indian opener Chris Gayle once again failed dismissed for 16 after he looked set for a big score when he hit paceman Mashrafe Mortaza for a six and four in the sixth over.He fell in the same over, caught by Sohag Gazi.

Kieran Powell (26) and Marlon Samuels (27) took the score to 71 when the Bangladeshi spinners struck thrice in as many overs, with Sunny taking wickets of both the batsmen in his successive overs.

Off-spinner Mahmudullah then took over dismissing Kieron Pollard (2), Devon Thomas (10) and Permaul (1) to derail the West Indies. In between these three wickets, Sammy and Bravo added an invaluable 43 for the seventh wicket.

Bangladesh won the first 2 matches by 7 wickets and 160 runs respectively - both in Khulna while the West Indies clinched the third in Dhaka by 4 wickets.

Bangladesh add Elias Sunny against WI

DHAKA - Bangladesh bolstered their spin attack for the last 2 ODI against West Indies by calling up left-armer Elias Sunny on Thursday.

Sunny was added to the squad as we felt a spinner short in Wednesday's 3rd match, said selector Minhajul Abedin. West Indies were struggling against spinners but we were short of options. We missed Shakib badly in this game.

Bangladesh is without their main spinner Shakib Al Hasan, who was ruled out after infuriating an injury in his right shinbone during a test match in Khulna last month. The home side won the 1st 2 ODIs in Khulna but missed a chance to seal the 5-match series in the 3rd match in Dhaka which they lost by four wickets.

The fourth ODI is in Dhaka on Friday (07-12-12).