NCA head VVS Laxman looking to revive Rahul Dravid’s robust India ‘A’ programme

National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman plans to revive the India ‘A’ tour programme. In an attempt to keep the bench strength strong and Indian Cricket healthy, Laxman looks to bring back the plan. Rahul Dravid, the previous NCA head, had set up an exceptional year-round development programme by which teams used to tour throughout the year. However, COVID put a stop to that, with boards unable to bear the cost.

Laxman looks to bring back India A tours

It’s been a couple of years since the pandemic, yet no tours are still being organised. The reason for this continues to be the board’s inability to bear the expenses of an India ‘A’ side tour. In the last year, there have been two India ‘A’ tours. One recently to Australia, and the last one came before the South Africa series in December-January. 

“Other boards have communicated to the BCCI that they can’t bear the expenses of an ‘A’ tour. The BCCI has still tried to organize a couple of shadow ‘A’ tours like the one which precedes India’s Test tour of Australia. Laxman is working on it to come up with a plan that will offer greater exposure to the next generation of cricketers. Other boards are reluctant to host these ‘A’ series, which don’t generate any revenue for them. The expenses must be borne by the local board. What needs to be worked out is a way to make these tours affordable,” a BCCI source told the Times of India.

How India A helps selection

“Earlier this year, there was an ‘A’ series against England Lions just ahead of England’s tour of India. That series offered the selectors a good perspective on where the players stand,” the source added.

Keeping Ranji Trophy strong

“The board also needs to see that Emerging tournaments and other series where two India teams are on separate tours don’t coincide with the Ranji Trophy. Almost 60 players are busy on such assignments this season and that hampers the quality of Ranji,” the source concluded.