'A keeper has to be a good batsman'

Hyderabad: Former India stumper Saba Karim on Friday said that a present-day wicketkeeper in international cricket necessarily needs to be an accomplished batsman also.

"Now you need to be an accomplished wicketkeeper and a very good batsman too to survive at the highest level. If you are only a stand-alone wicketkeeper it will not help you to get into any international side," Karim told PTI.

"Look at Adam Gilchrist, look at Mark Boucher. These players were able to survive in international cricket for a number of years because of their skills both in the front as well as behind the wickets.

Former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim feels India is fortunate to have a number of wicketkeeper-batsmen.

"Same goes with Dhoni. I think that is what we need to look at now. We need wicketkeepers who can contribute with the bat as well," he added.

Karim said Indian team is quite fortunate to have a number of reserve wicketkeeper-batsmen.

"India is quite fortunate to have players like Wriddhiman Saha, Dinesh Karthik and Parthiv Patel, who are both good with the gloves and the bat," said Karim on the sidelines of an event organised to announce Coca Cola U-16 inter-school cricket tournament in Hyderabad.

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