PTI

Jamshedpur, Jan 2: Former wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani on Wednesday lashed out at the Indian team management in Australia for "playing with the career" of Rahul Dravid by pushing him to the opener's slot.
   
Kirmani felt Dravid has established himself as a dependable number three in the batting order and the team management's decision to send him as opener was not justified.
   
"Dravid has been consistently performing at no. 3 slot and he should have continued at it."
   
"It was not a right decision particularly when specialist opener Sehwag was in the squad," he said.

He said he had been taken aback by Sehwag's exclusion from the final eleven despite the right-hander having an impressive record in Australia.
   
Kirmani said he did not see any reason for having two spinners in the playing eleven on bouncy Australian pitches.
   
Questioning the commitment of current players, Kirmani said, "During our time, we used to play for the country and its pride. But, now the people are more inclined towards the game because of the money and glamour it involved."
   
To a question, he said golf has become an expensive sports and newcomers in this game were mostly from affluent families, who can afford it.
   
However, sports in general have become commercial, he added.
   
Citing the performance of Indian golfers like Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa at international level, Kirmani said Indians have already made their presence felt at the international arena and the game have been attracting a lot of sponsors.