The Hindu : Sport : Dravid stresses on code of conduct

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 25, 2007
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Dravid stresses on code of conduct

Principal Correspondent

Rahul Dravid. — FILE Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Bangalore : Skipper Rahul Dravid sounded upbeat about India's prospects in the forthcoming World Cup in the West Indies.

"We have got the team that can do well in all conditions if we play up to our potential and that is what we will try to do," Dravid said here late on Friday night during the course of a panel discussion on `Team building and talent management'.

The discussion was organised by Skyline Housing and Construction Pvt. Ltd., for which the Indian skipper is the brand ambassador. Dravid, however, refused to be drawn into a discussion on individual players like Irfan Pathan and Virender Sehwag.

On conditions in the West Indies, Dravid said: "The last time we went there, the wickets were quite slow, but they could be different now. We are playing on new grounds and I don't want to go there with any pre-conceived notions."

Dravid spoke at length on the leadership role in cricket and termed that `informing a player that he is dropped' is the toughest job for a skipper.

Skipper's challenge

"One of the challenges faced by a leader of a team is to tell a player that he is dropped from the playing eleven. One has to convince the player that he was not dropped because he was not fit, but to improve his performance for inclusion in the next match.

We have to take into account the popularity of the player dropped, his fans and everything else.... it is the toughest job," Dravid said. He also mentioned that with the spate of injuries, more players would get their chances.

Another core area of leadership is motivational skills and Dravid mentioned that during the course of the panel discussion. "Instead of making a player stagnant by using him in only one angle, challenges should be given to motivate a player to improve upon. New challenges should be given," Dravid said. He also added that whenever a player faced a problem, it should be sorted out through discussions within the team.

Dravid also stressed on the need to follow the `code of conduct'. "It's non-negotiable. Whether you are a new or an experienced player, you have to follow the guidelines and certain principles which are meant for maintaining the integrity of a team," the skipper said.

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