(Image Source: PTI)
[Saba Sports News] Post the South Africa tour, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) will deliberate on extending head coach Rahul Dravid’s contract. Dravid’s current contract, which was set to end after the ODI World Cup 2023, has been extended to the T20 World Cup 2024, to be held in the West Indies in June. BCCI secretary Jay Shah explained this extension was due to the lack of time to appoint an interim coach. A decision on Dravid’s tenure will be made after the team’s return in January 2024.
“We did not have time. We met with them and mutually agreed that he can continue. Once they return from South Africa, we will sit with him and decide on the tenure,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah revealed.
Shah also mentioned that captain Rohit Sharma’s participation in the T20 World Cup 2024 is uncertain, with a decision expected post the Afghanistan series and IPL 2024.
Updates were provided on Hardik Pandya’s fitness, who is currently under daily monitoring and expected to recover potentially before the Afghanistan series. Pandya has been sidelined since October 19, following an ankle injury during the ODI World Cup 2023.
“The tournament (Twenty20 World Cup) starts in June. There’s the IPL before that and the series against Afghanistan. We will take a good decision. He (Hardik) is being monitored on a day-to-day basis. He’s at the NCA. He’s working hard. We will let you know in due course. He can be fit even before the Afghanistan series,” he shared.
Additionally, Shah commented on Mohammed Shami’s recovery from an ankle injury sustained during the ODI World Cup 2023. Despite the injury, Shami emerged as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. Shah is confident of Shami’s recovery in time for the upcoming Test series against South Africa starting December 26.
“Shami should be ready for the South Africa series. He is not at the NCA yet but will go there soon. We are confident he will recover in time,” he added.