Durban (South Africa): Shaun Pollock on Sunday said he was sacked as South African skipper not for his team's debacle in the World Cup but because his style of leadership clashed with the curbs imposed on the captain since Hansie Cronje's fall from grace."Since the Hansie issue there has been an effort to ensure the captain isn't given too much power," Pollock told reporters. "Shared responsibility was the approach they wanted. That hasn't worked out from my perspective. As captain you want full support to be able to do what you want."Pollock, who took over South African captaincy after Cronje was banned for life following admissions to having received money from bookmakers, was sacked last night in the wake of South Africa's elimination from the World Cup in the first round. Pollock was replaced by 22-year-old opening batsman Graeme Smith. Pollock felt his sacking did not have much to do with his team's ouster from the World Cup. "I don't think I have been sacked on the back of the World Cup. Over my tenure there has been a bit of criticism about the way I have handled certain issues. "I have been a captain who tried his best to lead from the front but that obviously is not the style of leadership they want," he said. Pollock also said he did not want to relieve captaincy but promised full support to his successor. "I did not want to step down but they asked me to. I accept that decision and wish my successor well." PTI

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Smith to step into Pollock's shoes: Cassim Docrat

Tags: cricket, shaun pollock, south african skipper graeme smith, world cup, hansie cronje.