A day before the deadline to apply for two vacant slots in the senior selection committee, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is mulling over whether to move away from the convention of appointing a representative from each of the five zones.
The BCCI last week issued an advertisement inviting applications for the two slots in the five-member panel, to be vacated by chairman M.S.K. Prasad (south zone) and Gagan Khoda (central zone). In accordance with the apex court-directed administrative reforms, the advertisement had no mention of the zonal criterian.
Differing views
It is understood that a section in the Board feels it is time for the BCCI to move away from the conventional zonal policy, while some of the office-bearers feel it’s best to stick with the tried and tested practice.
Sanjay Jagdale, who has served Indian cricket in various capacities including secretary and national selector, isn’t sure whether Indian cricket is ready to move to a non-partisan selection panel.
“Personally, I don’t think it’s the right way to go about it. Although it should not be like that I don’t think we are ready to move beyond the zonal policy,” Jagdale told The Hindu . “The success of deviation depends on people who are employed as selectors. If you have people with integrity to cricket, then there’s no harm in it but if you have political leanings in terms of cricket in appointments, then it will not work and be unfair.”
Former India cricketers — leggie L. Sivaramakrishnan, wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia, batsman Amay Khurasiya and off-spinner Rajesh Chauhan — confirmed on Thursday that they have formally applied for the selector’s post.
Zonal policy or otherwise, Sivaramakrishnan will be a leading contender.
If the BCCI — which is yet to formalise the Cricket Advisory Committee that’s supposed to conduct interviews of shortlisted candidates — decides to continue with the zonal policy, then Khurasiya and Chauhan will emerge as leading contenders from the central zone to replace Khoda.
