Rahul Dravid denies attending U19 team selection meeting

Former Indian captain Rahul Dravid was pepped to be the coach of the Indian team soon after his retirement and when he was offered the role he declined it only to pick the post of the coach of the India A and U19 teams. But now that his two-year contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has ended he has declined the offer to be a part of the selection meeting to pick the U19 squad.

The BCCI asked him to be present on June 16 when the selectors discuss the team for the 2 four-day matches in England in July. Dravid reasoned that his contract as the coach hasn’t been renewed and if he attends the meeting it could spark another controversy since he was already named for conflict of interest because of his coaching role with the Delhi Daredevils team in the IPL.

“Dravid has informed BCCI that he won’t be attending selection committee meeting as he doesn’t want any controversy. Dravid contract is yet to be renewed and as he is no longer the coach of India Under 19 team. He said that it will be unfair on his part to attend the meeting without owning the job,” sources in the BCCI were quoted by The Indian Express.

Interested in continuing

However, it is believed that Dravid is pretty much willing to continue as the coach of the India junior teams. While the BCCI has initiated a similar process that they did to find the new coach of the India senior’s team with an advertisement inviting applications for the opening. Dravid like Anil Kumble will get a bypass the first phase and directly appear for interview in front of the CAC all of whom are his former teammates.

“We would be following the same process followed to select the Indian national team coach for the junior team as well. It was approved by COA in the last meeting and Dravid will get direct entry in the selection process,” BCCI official informed.