PTI

Lahore, Oct 29: Several Pakistan players believe that the decision to drop former Indian captain Rahul Dravid for the first two one-day internationals against them will give the visitors a big advantage. The Indian selectors have left out Dravid for the games in Guwahati and Mohali on November 5 and 8 after he had a poor series at home against Australia .

 Senior batsman Younis Khan said Dravid was a fantastic player who had always led from the front. "The advantage is for us. Because if India don't perform well or lose the first two games, the pressure will increase on their selectors and captain and management that they dropped someone like Dravid," Younis said on Sunday. "The pressure which is already on India as they are playing at home, will only increase for their selectors and team management and that will benefit us in the long run."

Pacer Mohammad Asif said he was looking forward to the Indian tour but was surprised Dravid had been rested for the first two games. "The first two matches of any series are always important. His absence will make a difference to our attitude because he is a world class player and one of the best in the world, Asif said. Asif said Dravid's absence will put more pressure on their younger players to perform well. "This should be to our advantage."

Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who is making a comeback to the team in the final one-dayer against South Africa, said he was happy he did not have to bowl to Dravid. "He is a very difficult batsman to dislodge and as a bowler I never enjoyed bowling to him and his wicket was always a prized one for me." "I was not expecting their selectors would drop him so soon because he is such a quality player."

Batsman Yasir Hameed said he had always tried to emulate Dravid and was surprised to learn he was not picked for the first two one-dayers. "He is such an experienced player and has scored so many runs. His presence has always been invaluable to the Indian team. So I am surprised they should drop him for the first two games which eventually will set the pace and mood of the coming series."

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif said the Indian selectors had blundered by omitting Dravid. "He has struggled in recent matches but it is just a matter of time before he will comeback into form. I just think by dropping him the Indian selectors will dent his confidence for the Tests as well."

Pakistan's former coach and manager Haroon Rasheed, however, supported the decision to rest Dravid. "He has been out of sorts and his body language has not been very good in recent games. So it is good he is rested for a while and India do have some exciting young players coming up and in line to secure their place in the Indian team," he said.