After a meeting of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) at the BCCI headquarters here on Saturday afternoon, Board secretary Niranjan Shah told newsmen, "Dilip has been told not to write columns with immediate effect."
The controversy had originated after Dravid was left out of the first two one-dayers against Pakistan, following which various comments attributed to Vengsarkar had appeared in different sections of the media. Several quarters also took exception to a syndicated column by Vengsarkar in a national daily. Saturday's decision taken by the Board, therefore, comes as no surprise, even as Board president Sharad Pawar queered the pitch somewhat by saying Vengsarkar was free to express his opinions.

Quick act
Acting quickly, the BCCI's chief executive officer Prof Ratnakar Shetty reiterated that the chairman of the selection panel wasn't allowed to write columns.

Meanwhile, the NCA Board met for the first time after Ravi Shastri became its chairman and Dav Whatmore was appointed the Director of Operations last month. One of the most significant decisions to arise from the meeting was that players contracted to the Board but not representing India, their States or playing competitively could spend time at the NCA working on their game.

Training at NCA
"If they are not on duty for India, State or playing in a competition, the contracted players can sort out their shortcomings and improve their skills at the NCA," Shastri said.

"This should be the ideal thing to do for the contracted players. We have decided to keep the NCA active for 10-11 months a year. The ultimate aim of the NCA is to work on a group of 30 players who, at any given time, are ready to play for India.

The NCA will also serve as the place where injured players could work on recovery and rehabilitation, and prove their fitness.

"The NCA will be the finishing school for the India 'A' and under-19 players," the former Indian captain added. "The India U-19 team for the World Cup in Malaysia early next year will spend ten days at the academy so that they are ready for competition.

The NCA will have a specific structure — there will be specialist coaches for batting, bowling and fielding. It will have a physio and a physical trainer. Efforts will also be made to ensure the NCA trainees become mentally strong and know the history of the game in India. Also, the pool of coaches also be increased. Dav is a vastly experienced man, particularly having worked with the Sri Lankan and Bangladesh national teams."

State juniors
Shastri added that state academies, scheduled to be functional by 2009, will serve state juniors, with promising talent upgraded to the zonal academies. "The best in these academies will be part of the finishing school at the NCA,'' said Shastri, stressing the need for uniformity in coaching as well as in other cricket-related issues.
Whatmore, meanwhile, said he wouldn't necessarily follow the Australian method in its entirety. "What's good for Australian cricket need not necessarily be good for India," the former Aussie batsman said.