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Shastri: Dhoni is not ready

Image: Dhoni: in the frame

Ravi Shastri says "the time is not right" to make Mahendra Singh Dhoni India's Test captain.

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Five-day captaincy "asking too much" of ODI skipper

Former India captain Ravi Shastri has said that handing the Test captaincy to Mahendra Singh Dhoni would place too large a burden on his shoulders. The wicketkeeper already leads India's one-day side and, with Sachin Tendulkar having already turned down the chance to lead the Test side - the batsman saying a younger man was needed - Dhoni's name has moved into the frame. Veterans Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman are also in the running to lead India in the upcoming series against Pakistan, which starts in Delhi on November 22.

Inexperience

But Shastri, who is now chairman of India's National Cricket Academy, believes that, with only 20 Tests under his belt, Dhoni is too inexperienced. He told the Kolkata-based Telegraph newspaper: "Dhoni has done well leading the side in ODIs and Twenty20 internationals. Burdening him now with the Test captaincy would be asking for too much. "It will put him under a lot of pressure. He needs a couple of tough tours before he is handed over the mantle. The time is not right to appoint him." India's selectors will meet on Thursday to both name a Test captain and announce the squad for the last three games of the one-day series against Pakistan.

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