Cup proves to be skippers’ Waterloo

Scotland’s Greg Salmond too would have been included int he above list, but his team failed to qualify for the 2003 edition.

Now even before the current touranment has ended, two captains have already been shown the door, one resigned in disgust, another is pondering his future while yet another is hovering on the brink.

South Africa sacked Shaun Pollock after the hosts failed to make the Super Sixes even though the team is currently the official World Champions in Test cricket.

Waqar’s sacking yesterday was on expected lines after co-favourites Pakistan lost to archrivals India on their way to making their exit after the first round. He was replaced by Rashid Latif, Pakistan’s sixth captain in five years.

Nasser Hussain resigned as one-day captain, disgusted at the way officials handled the Zimbabwe boycott issue, even though he wants to remain the leader for Test matches.

Carl Hooper is uncertain to lead the West Indies in the upcoming home series against Australia, while Bangladesh’s Khaled Mashud said he was still undecided whether to step down.

Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak, on the other hand, insisted he will not follow Andy Flower and Henry Olonga into retirement and that he would battle on at the head of his team which was dogged by political controversy throughout the World Cup.

Pollock blamed the legacy of disgraced former skipper Cronje for his sacking, although he vowed to play on under new captain Graeme Smith. ‘‘Ever since the Hansie issue there’s been an effort to make sure the captain was not given too much power and shared responsibilty was the approach they wanted,’’ Pollock said.