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New Delhi: Rahul Dravid on Friday sent shock waves across the cricket fraternity by stepping down as captain of the Indian cricket team to concentrate on his batting, bringing an abrupt end to his two-year chequered tenure at the helm.
Although the BCCI did not specify whether it had accepted the resignation or not, a top Board source said his request would be considered and the selection committee will appoint a new captain on September 18. "Rahul Dravid met Sharad Pawar at Delhi on September 13 and expressed his desire to step down as the captain of the Indian team and requested that he should not be considered for the job from the ensuing Australia series," said a BCCI press release.
The 33-year-old Dravid has assured that he would extend his full co-operation to his successor and contribute as a batsman and a senior player, it said. BCCI President Sharad Pawar said he had forwarded Dravid's resignation to the Board. "He (Dravid) wants to continue playing and improve his performance. Accepting his resignation is not in my hands the decision rests with the selection committee, but we should respect his decision."
"I have forwarded his resignation to BCCI," Pawar said. "Dravid told me during the recent tour of England that he wanted to step down. He said captaincy was affecting his batting and he now wants to concentrate on his game. After leading the team for two years, he wants the opportunity to go to some new person," he added. "Because we respect his decision, we gave the information to the media," Pawar said.
BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said Dravid had done a good job as captain and the Board would try to persuade him to reconsider his decision. "We all like Dravid because he has done well for the Indian team. The (BCCI) President has spoken to him and the selection committee will also speak to him. Players at a certain age decide for themselves. We all like to see him as a captain," Shah told reporters at the Ferozshah Kotla stadium.
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla, however, said the Board would consider his request and look for a successor. "He has been requesting it for the past couple of days. He was feeling burdened as a player and captain. The BCCI will now consider the options," he said. Shukla said Dravid did not give any indication during the tour of England that he wanted to step down. "I think the reasons are personal. He must have pondered over it". Former cricketers and administrators reacted with shock at the news of Dravid's resignation but there was a mixed reaction among cricket fans.
Although the BCCI did not specify whether it had accepted the resignation or not, a top Board source said his request would be considered and the selection committee will appoint a new captain on September 18. "Rahul Dravid met Sharad Pawar at Delhi on September 13 and expressed his desire to step down as the captain of the Indian team and requested that he should not be considered for the job from the ensuing Australia series," said a BCCI press release.
The 33-year-old Dravid has assured that he would extend his full co-operation to his successor and contribute as a batsman and a senior player, it said. BCCI President Sharad Pawar said he had forwarded Dravid's resignation to the Board. "He (Dravid) wants to continue playing and improve his performance. Accepting his resignation is not in my hands the decision rests with the selection committee, but we should respect his decision."
"I have forwarded his resignation to BCCI," Pawar said. "Dravid told me during the recent tour of England that he wanted to step down. He said captaincy was affecting his batting and he now wants to concentrate on his game. After leading the team for two years, he wants the opportunity to go to some new person," he added. "Because we respect his decision, we gave the information to the media," Pawar said.
BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said Dravid had done a good job as captain and the Board would try to persuade him to reconsider his decision. "We all like Dravid because he has done well for the Indian team. The (BCCI) President has spoken to him and the selection committee will also speak to him. Players at a certain age decide for themselves. We all like to see him as a captain," Shah told reporters at the Ferozshah Kotla stadium.
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla, however, said the Board would consider his request and look for a successor. "He has been requesting it for the past couple of days. He was feeling burdened as a player and captain. The BCCI will now consider the options," he said. Shukla said Dravid did not give any indication during the tour of England that he wanted to step down. "I think the reasons are personal. He must have pondered over it". Former cricketers and administrators reacted with shock at the news of Dravid's resignation but there was a mixed reaction among cricket fans.
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