Azhar gets the catch8217; right

Colombo, Feb 28: Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin8217;s statement in Calcutta after India8217;s humiliating defeat to Pakistan in the first Asian Test championship match that he 8220;went for the catch to protect a fielder which I don8217;t want to name,8221; raised many a hackle. Obviously, he was referring to Laxman who was at second slip when Azhar lunged to his left and dropped a catch. Saeed Anwar was the beneficiary and the left-hander swung the match in Pakistan8217;s favour with an unbeaten century.On Sunday, Azharuddin, in an apparent bid to set the record straight, said: 8220;I8217;m not blaming anyone for the dropped catch. I just said I went for the catch even though it wasn8217;t mine. It was a difficult one for me which came to my left. I instinctively went for it,8221; said Azhar, and added: 8220;I take the entire blame for the dropped catch. It was my fault.8221;Laxman had a nightmare in the second league match at short-leg in Colombo. He had no big score to show for his effort.

However, coach Anshuman Gaekwad was confidentthat Laxman would overcome this. 8220;He is short of confidence. I told him you are a good player8217;. Hopefully, these words would do Laxman8217;s confidence a world of good,8221; the coach said.