Dravid won’t tour with senior team: Vinod Rai

TIL Desk Sports/ Former India captain Rahul Dravid “will not be available” for the senior Indian team’s overseas tours owing to his commitments with the India A and Under-19 sides, the Committee of Administrators (COA) chief Vinod Rai said today.

While Rai admitted that they are trying to sort out Zaheer Khan’s contract issues as he is still associated with IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils, CEO Rahul Johri informed that the former speedster is likely to be available for India’s tour of South Africa.

“Dravid’s contract issues are all sorted. He has two-year full-time contract (India A and U19). He has said that he is not available for tours abroad (senior team). He does not want to hang around,” Rai said after his meeting with BCCI officials.

It is learnt that with the Under-19 World Cup next year and some A series also lined up, Dravid will be available if chief coach Ravi Shastri wants him when the senior team camps at the National Cricket Academy.

This effectively rules Dravid out of the South Africa tour as speculated in certain sections. Rai also admitted that in case of Zaheer Khan, they are “struggling” to create a template in which his IPL contract can be balanced with his consultancy role.