Rahul Dravid has resigned as India captain with immediate effect. In a letter written to the Indian board, he has asked to be relieved of the captaincy before Australia’s forthcoming tour of India, beginning later this month.

Niranjan Shah, secretary of the Indian board, said Dravid met Sharad Pawar, the board president, in New Delhi yesterday. “He expressed his desire to step down as captain of the Indian team and requested that he should not be considered for the job from the ensuing Australia series,” Shah said.

The board, he said, did not try to dissuade Dravid, who wanted to concentrate on his game. “A player has to decide for himself”, Shah said.

Dravid had opted out of the ICC World Twenty20 currently on in South Africa and the captaincy of that team was handed to Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Shah told Cricinfo the board would meet within the next two days to appoint the next captain. “We will take a decision very soon.” Australia arrive in India on September 25 and the first of seven ODIs is in Bangalore four days later.

Dilip Vengsarkar, the chairman of selectors, said a decision would be taken on September 18, when the team for the Australia ODIs is to be picked.

Vengsarkar, who was in New Delhi watching the match between India A and South Africa A, appeared unaware of the news until told about it by journalists. Asked for his reaction, Vengsarkar said: “I can’t even be shocked because [officially] I haven’t heard anything.”

Full story at www.cricinfo.com

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