Raffles help Dravid to enjoy tartan honeymoon

Rahul dravid, one of the world's best batsmen, has not played a match since India faced Australia in the World Cup final in Johannesburg in March. So the fact that his next game will be for the Scottish Saltires against the Hampshire Hawks in the National League Second Division in Edinburgh tomorrow is intriguing in itself.

Throw in the detail that his Saltires debut will see him facing Pakistan's Wasim Akram and the contest takes on an extra dimension. But that is not the half of it. This story also features a fight for survival and more than a touch of romance.

The Saltires, the newest force in Scottish cricket, have made a storming start in the league in their first season, beating Durham, Somerset and Lancashire to stand second in the table. But they are living on the breadline, uncertain whether they'll find the money to finish their 18-match campaign.

Dravid's own contract, for 12 games, is largely being funded by Scotland's Asian community, who have been raising money with dinners, raffles and individual donations to pay for it. In terms of market value, £45,000 for three months (around £2,500 per match plus the rent on a flat in central Edinburgh, a car, flights, living expenses and insurance) it's not especially expensive. Dravid, a veteran of 69 Tests and 207 one-day internationals who has a first-class average of 56, could have commanded around £125,000 for playing county cricket for the summer.

But one of the reasons he has chosen to play for the Saltires is because he got married last month and his punishing schedule left no chance for a proper post-nuptial holiday. Scotland seemed a good location for an extended honeymoon with his new bride, Vijeta.

"I suppose you could call [the summer with the Saltires] an extended honeymoon, with a bit of work as well," Dravid said. "Everyone tells me Scotland is beautiful and hopefully we'll get a chance to see it. I'm also looking forward to meeting everyone and getting to know the culture."

And what was attraction of Scottish cricket particularly? "I think it was the fact that this is a new team, entering the competition for the first time. Also there is the chance of playing in different conditions. I have played a lot in England, but haven't played up here. Plus I liked the fact that this was only 12 one-day matches over three months.

"Considering the kind of international schedule we have had, this will help me to keep in touch while also contributing something to a new, young team. I hate to use the phrase 'giving something back to the game', but I definitely look on this as an opportunity for me to do something other than just play cricket.

"Hopefully I will be able to interact with a lot of youngsters, pass on some of my experience and help the [Scottish] game get a bit more recognition."

Certainly the last of those reasons was high on the Saltires' list of priorities when Dravid, 30, was targeted by Gwynne Jones, the chief executive of the Scottish Cricket Union. Jones was keen to hire an Indian international "because cricket is a great game for bringing different ethnic populations together". But it wasn't until he went to the Headingley Test between England and India last August, and sounded out India's coach, John Wright, that Dravid became his No 1 choice.

"I was thinking about Sachin Tendulkar but John told me, 'The person who's really going to do things for you, on and off the pitch, is Rahul Dravid'," Jones said. Dravid scored 148 in the only innings India needed to win at Leeds and was named Man of the Match. "I spent half an hour with him afterwards," Jones said. "He liked the idea of what we were doing. We kept in touch."

The deal, finalised earlier this year, will not be a financial burden to the Saltires because if the local fundraising falls short the SCU's 10-man board will dip into their own pockets. And Dravid's presence, Jones hopes, will lead to an upturn in the Saltires' financial fortunes. They could do with one. None of the Saltires squad - except Dravid and his fellow overseas international, South African Jon Kent - receive anything for playing. That prompted a local businessman to donate £10,000 this week towards their out-of-pocket expenses.

The Saltires have also been unable, so far, to find a sponsor willing to pay the £30,000 asking price to have their name on the team's shirts and hoardings for the season. A reduction in Lottery funding has also seen the withdrawal of £104,000 in support grants to players because Scotland did not qualify for the 2003 World Cup. (The fate of the Saltires, who are Scotland's de facto one-day side, is inextricably linked to the fate of Scottish cricket).

Another £66,000 of Lottery money was withdrawn pre-season because Jones could not guarantee to Sport Scotland that Scotland's cricketers would make the semi-finals of the 2007 World Cup. (Lottery funding in Scotland is now linked wholly to the meeting of targets). And instead of receiving an expected grant of £250,000 for improvement to The Grange, the ground where the Saltires play, the SCU instead received £100,000.

Jones' problem is that the SCU not only has to fund the Saltires, but the whole of Scottish cricket, from development programmes upwards. No funding means no progress. No progress means no funding. It is a shame because the game in Scotland is going places.

More people play cricket north of the border - 10,000 - than play club rugby. The SCU has just announced Ian Botham as its first patron. A good season for the Saltires in the National League would be another step for Scotland towards the long-term aim of Test status. Yet asked if the Saltires could default on their season because of lack of money Jones conceded: "It is a possibility."

It would be a huge setback at a time when Jones believes Scotland are closing the gap on their international rivals. "I'm damned sure we'd hammer Bangladesh now," he said. "And within two years I know we'll be capable of beating Zimbabwe. They've got really big problems. I know that from the inside." (Born in Harare, he formerly ran Zimbabwe's academy.)

"But we're in a risky situation. We're doing well on the field, but things are looking risky off it. Unless people in through the gate [against the Hawks] and again next weekend [in a one-day game against Pakistan in Glasgow] we've got a serious cash flow problem."

Hence Dravid's impact could be vital. "The fact that Wasim plays for Hampshire will give the game even more interest," the player said, looking forward to his debut. "He's one of the finest bowlers in the world and I always enjoy playing against him.

"But the most important thing is for Scotland to keep their fantastic start going. The results so far show that there's a lot of talent in the team. I'm looking forward to working with them."

He added that he had followed the first matches of the season on the internet. "It made me think maybe they don't need my help," he joked. If only.