The 36-year-old batsman finds few supporters for the way he has led the Indian team and his indifferent form with the bat has done nothing to help him.

Test veterans Dilip Sardesai, Pankaj Roy as also Azhar's known critic Manoj Prabhakar favour his being replaced even before the World Cup, but most others did not favour a change at this stage.

ML Jaisimha, spinners BS Chandrasekhar, Erapalli Prasanna, Bapu Nadkarni and ex-skippers Polly Umrigar, G Ramchand and Krishnamachari Srikkanth said Azhar's ouster was not advisable at this juncture.

``This team was playing so well under Jadeja and all were giving more than 100 per cent. But Azhar failed to inspire them,'' Pankaj Roy said in Calcutta. Dilip Sardesai called for Azhar to step down on his own. ``The World Cup team has already been picked and it is unfairto change captaincy now. But Azhar has failed to motivate his boys and should step down voluntarily,'' he said in Mumbai. Sardesai recommended that Jadeja be given the mantle. ``He led the team in the league stages in Azhar's absence and looks real captaincy material. I feel he should be given the job.''

Ex-all rounder Manoj Prabhakar felt Azhar should not have returned for the final and Jadeja should have been persisted with. But Jaisimha said any such decision would affect the morale of the team and captain.

``No doubt Jadeja led and won three matches. But that need not be the reason to ask Azhar to step down. The Board made him captain for Sharjah and the World Cup and it was only due to injury that he could not lead the side,'' the stylish former batsman and Azhar's mentor said in Hyderabad.

Former skipper Srikkanth, whom Azhar replaced to become India skipper in 1990, also brushed aside suggestions for Azhar's removal.

``I still believe Indians will do very well in England if only they bat andbowl well,'' he commented in Chennai.

Umrigar, Ramchand, Nadkarni and Tamhane were united in opposing calls for Azhar's removal and criticised the media for calling for his head in the wake of India's continued dismal performance.

Ramchand said, ``he has got so much experience. He needs the support of the powers that be who should tell him to ignore the criticism and concentrate on the job,'' Ramchand added.

Umrigar said talks about changing the captain should be put to an end the team should concentrate on preparing for the World Cup. ``I won't disturb the captain at this stage and spoil his confidence. Instead, we should concentrate on the preparations,'' he said.

Former off-spinner Bapu Nadkarni attributed mental block to India's inability to do well against Pakistan. He said it unwise to demand Azhar's replacement at the helm with the World Cup looming large. ``Azhar should not step down from the job and instead, should bounce back and prove to the critics he can deliver the goods,'' Nadkarnisaid. In Bangalore, leg spin wizard BS Chandrasekhar scoffed at captaincy itself. ``I don't believe in captaincy. It is the team effort that counts rather than the individual. A player needs to be pepped up on his own and continue to give his best, especially when he is wearing Indian colours.''

Prasanna too said captaincy had very little part to play and felt change of leadership after team and captain had been announced was not advisable. MRF Academy coach and former Test bowler TA Sekar said, ``the bottomline is winning but when we lose it surprises people. Jadeja was only a makeshift captain and he did his duty well.''

``If the committee is thinking of change in captaincy, they should have done it three months before. There would have been pressure on any captain with such a low total, which was only due to batting failure. Leave Azhar's bad patch. What was the performance of other players?'' Sekar asked in Chennai.