BCCI offers to extend Rahul Dravid's stint as head coach

The acceptance of the offer by Dravid remains unconfirmed, and this development follows India's loss in the World Cup final a few days ago.

Rahul Dravid assumed the position of India's head coach in 2021, taking over from Ravi Shastri.

In a move indicating continuity, the BCCI has proposed an extension for Rahul Dravid to continue as India's head coach. According to ESPNcricinfo sources, Dravid was approached by the BCCI last week, and the extension's duration remains undetermined.

Confirmation of Dravid's acceptance is still pending. The BCCI's inclination to retain Dravid is attributed to the desire for continuity in the structure he established over the past two years. The potential disruption from appointing a new head coach factored into this decision.

If Dravid agrees, his initial task in the extended role will be India's tour of South Africa, commencing with the white-ball series from December 10, featuring three T20Is and ODIs each, followed by two Tests in Centurion (from December 26) and Cape Town (from January 3). Subsequently, a five-match Test series against England at home precedes the T20 World Cup in June.

Having taken over from Ravi Shastri post the T20 World Cup in 2021, Dravid's initial two-year term concluded with India finishing as runners-up in the recent ODI World Cup. This marked India's joint-best performance at ICC events under Dravid's coaching tenure, following the World Test Championship final loss to Australia in June. Prior to that, India faced defeat against England in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final.

Should Dravid continue, it is anticipated that he will retain the same group of assistant coaches from his 2021 appointment: Vikram Rathour (batting coach), Paras Mhambrey (bowling coach), and T Dilip (fielding coach).

After the World Cup final defeat, Dravid expressed pride in India's No. 1 ranking across formats but acknowledged the disappointment of not securing a global trophy. Regarding his future in the role, Dravid mentioned not having had the time to contemplate it amidst the intense focus on preparing for the World Cup.

Hafeez underscores an international-first approach for contracted players, emphasizing Pakistan as the top priority

The team director has introduced a fresh policy aimed at dissuading young cricketers from engaging in T20 matches early in their careers.

The PCB granted central contracts with the condition that players would be accessible for all formats as required, as stated by Mohammad Hafeez.

The PCB has emphasized that the primary focus for all Pakistan players should be on representing Pakistan rather than participating in T20 franchise leagues. This directive, delivered by team director Mohammad Hafeez before the team's departure to Australia, gains significance in light of Haris Rauf's potential delay in joining the Big Bash League (BBL) in the same country.

Rauf, caught in the transition of team management priorities, faced criticism from new chief selector Wahab Riaz for declining selection in the Test squad for Australia. Now, awaiting a No Objection Certificate (NOC), Rauf's BBL start is stalled officially due to his ongoing participation in the National T20 Cup for Islamabad until December 10.

Mohammad Hafeez, reiterating the Pakistan-first stance, reinforced this message during a press conference in Lahore. He also introduced a new policy aimed at discouraging young cricketers from engaging in T20 cricket early in their careers.

Haris Rauf, largely considered a white-ball specialist for Pakistan, has limited Test and first-class experience. Despite playing just one Test and nine first-class matches, his commitment to Test cricket, initially conveyed to Wahab Riaz, became a point of contention. Hafeez clarified that the physio's reports indicated no physical impediment for Rauf to play Test cricket, refuting any notion of reluctance or external pressure.

Haris Rauf's experience includes just one Test appearance and participation in nine first-class matches.

"If an individual expresses a reluctance to participate in red-ball cricket, it is considered an individual decision. Central contracts were awarded with the understanding that players would be accessible for all formats when required. In the case of Haris Rauf, his unavailability for red-ball cricket will be taken into account while deciding on central contracts. This decision-making process aligns with Pakistan's FTP commitments, determining the categories of contracts players receive.

Initially, Hafeez hinted at the possibility of a new NOC policy, but later clarified that it would align with the existing central contracts. This messaging is not necessarily in conflict with current NOC regulations, as outlined in the current central contracts. These contracts permit players to participate in a maximum of two leagues per year, excluding the PSL, a crucial aspect negotiated between players and the board earlier this year. However, the contracts explicitly state that NOCs depend on approval from various stakeholders, including domestic coaches, PCB departments, the national-team coach, and selectors. Essentially, Hafeez's statements reinforce the stringent requirements for obtaining any NOC.

He emphasized that once a cricketer accepts a central contract, the assumption is their availability for Pakistan in all formats throughout the year.

"First and foremost, the priority is representing Pakistan. Subsequently, all centrally contracted and domestic contracted players prioritize Pakistan. The offer of a central contract is based on a strong reason, considering Pakistan's FTP commitments across three formats, with the intention of their active participation.

"While leagues provide an alternative, we've witnessed instances in events like the Asia Cup and World Cup, where talk of fatigue, injuries due to excessive workloads, or suboptimal performance surfaced because of league engagements."

Hafeez has suggested that, in the run-up to the 2024 T20 World Cup, Pakistan will emphasize managing player workloads when granting NOCs for T20 leagues.

Indicating potential challenges for players like Rauf in obtaining NOCs for various leagues this winter, Hafeez emphasized the significance of workload management with an eye on the 2024 T20 World Cup. In addition to the upcoming Tests in Australia, Pakistan has T20Is scheduled in New Zealand in January, followed by the PSL.

"As we approach the T20 World Cup, the NOC policy will be centered on Pakistan's requirements. Ensuring players' fitness and managing workloads is crucial. The utmost energy and availability must be dedicated to Pakistan. While opportunities to play in leagues will be considered, the priority remains with Pakistan. The current season's central contracts will continue as planned. The central contract is awarded under the condition of players being available for the FTP. Any decisions regarding NOCs will align with Pakistan's priorities. It's not about preventing players from participating in leagues, but if Pakistan is the priority, NOCs cannot prioritize leagues over national commitments."

Hafeez also mentioned restricting Under-19 players from participating in the National T20 Cup and announced a similar approach for the PSL. His intention is to focus these young players on honing the fundamentals of their game.

"We aim to provide opportunities for two- or three-day games, enhancing the foundational aspects of their game. This decision to prevent their participation in the National T20 Cup and extend it to the PSL is to emphasize concentrating on the basics. U-19 players need to strengthen their basics before delving into T20 cricket. We want to shift the focus of U-19 cricket towards red-ball cricket. A new clause stipulates that any U-19 player wanting to play T20 cricket should have participated in 10 first-class or non-first-class matches to ensure a solid foundation in the game."