IndiaPost.com - Dravid steps down as captain of Indian cricket team

NEW DELHI: Rahul Dravid 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.

Selection Committee Chairman Dilip Vengsarkar said the committee would meet on September 18 to appoint the new captain. Dravid's surprise decision to relinquish the hot seat comes barely a fortnight before Australia's tour of India, during which they will play seven one-dayers.

The Karnataka batsman took over the captaincy from Sourav Ganguly in October 2005 and some of his decisions during his two-year stint came in for criticism. Dravid, who has played 112 Tests and scored 9492 runs for an impressive average of 56.50, captained India in 25 Tests, winning eight, drawing 11 and losing 6 matches. In one-dayers, Dravid captained in 79 matches, winning 42 and losing 33 while four matches ended in no result.

Dravid, who opted out of the twenty20 World Cup in South Africa, refused to make any comments on his decision at the moment. "I don't want to make any comment on this issue at the moment," Dravid said.

Dravid's decision has put the selectors in a fix to search for his successor in the midst of India's busy cricketing calender.