``Can India afford the `luxury' of having Mohammed Azharuddin in the playing eleven?'' asks former India skipper Bishen Singh Bedi. ``We are wasting a place by playing him -- the skipper of the team -- as he doesn't want to bat, leave alone lead by example.''

Imran Khan, himself a great leader of men, agrees. ``India's biggest problem is their captain...his face and body language show that he is incapable of solving his own problems, let alone anybody else's.''

After a dream beginning -- three centuries in his first three tests -- Azhar is fading away, and not very gracefully. From beinga role model, he's the target of much ridicule. Nigerian football import Emeka Achillefu says Azhar is referred to as `lightning' in soccer circles. Not for his fielding, but for his quick exit from the batting crease. ``Even before you can fix your eyes on him, he is seen walking back to the dressing room,'' says Emeka.

When was the last time Azhar won a match for India? More than six months ago at Sharjah in November last year, when his 94 set up India's run chase against the Sri Lankans. Seven months before that, he scored 153 not out against Zimbabwe, and India won a good game.

Only once in the last two years, in fact, since he regained the captaincy has India batted second and Azhar top-scored when India has won the match. In all other cases when India has chased, Azhar has been led along, in a manner of speaking, as one of the other batsmen takes charge. There have been fifties then, too, but not in dominant roles. Surprising for a batsman who played more than 300 ODIs and is only 20 shy of animposing 9,000-run aggregate.

There have also been accusations of him not ``giving his best'', especially when Tendulkar was the captain. Instances are cited of how he's been dismissed at crucial junctures and in a manner that would suggest a ``devil-may-care'' attitude. Inevitably there are cries that he threw his wicket away.

Take, for instance, his last 10 innings: They've fetched an average of 26. That, any follower will tell you, is insufficient for a front-line batsman who finds a place in the playing eleven purely on batting grounds. For Azhar is no Mike Brearley, who earned his place by virtue of brilliant captaincy alone.

It would have been different had he been graceful in accepting his failures. Of late, however, those close to him have been speaking about the air of arrogance that has clouded over him. A recent example: When a scribe asked him about strategy, Azhar shot back, ``Have you played Test cricket?''

That is an indication that he is losing -- or has lost -- the skill ofcommunication, arguably the most important skill any leader should have. Instead, he has tried to shift the blame elsewhere: if it's not the fielding, it's the bowling and if it's neither, it's batting. But nothing of his own failures.

Bedi feels a sense of accountability should be attached to the most coveted post in Indian cricket. It is not too late for Azhar, as well as the team, who can redeem themselves by putting in extra effort effort in the side's remaining three league games. However, that can be achieved only if Azhar accepts the responsibility and learns from his mistakes. Experience shows otherwise.