Dravid ready to explain his stand... if the Board wants it

Rahul Dravid says that he was willing to give an explanation to the BCCI about his statements against Chetan Desai, reports KR Guruprasad.

Rahul Dravid on Saturday said he was willing to give an explanation to the BCCI about his statements against Indian team manager Chetan Desai for the tour of South Africa.

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“The board has not yet asked me for an explanation but if they do, then I will give them an explanation,” Dravid said here after the nets on Saturday.

Dravid had questioned the credibility of Desai, whose report criticising Virender Sehwag, was leaked to the media.

Meanwhile, BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said the board had not yet sought an explanation from Dravid but added that they could ask for one after this game or during the World Cup selection committee meeting on Monday in Mumbai.

Responding to a question on Dravid’s statement that since Desai had no cricketing history, he had no standing, Shah said: “The manager is with the team not because of his cricketing abilities but for his managerial and administrative skills.”

Asked about the timing of this controversy and the leak, the Board secretary stated, “Nobody would like to be in a
controversy. But these things happen and we should solve them.”

Meanwhile, Dravid continued in the same pithy vein when asked if controversies affected their World Cup preparations.

“Controversies are a part and parcel of being a cricketer in India or playing cricket in India. In the last three or four years, there has never been a time when there have been no controversies.

“Cricketers learn how to deal with it, move on and focus on their game. We will try to improve our performances and that of the team. There is going to be a lot of speculation but that’s the way it is going to be all the time.”

And he added, calmly, “Nothing worries me. If asked to give an explanation, I will. Honestly, nothing worries me.”

Email KR Guruprasad: writetoguru@gmail.com