In a significant development, former Indian cricketer Ajit Agarkar is set to become the chairman of the senior selection committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This position has been vacant since February 17 when former fast bowler Chetan Sharma resigned after being implicated in a sting operation. The BCCI officials approached Agarkar with an offer of an increased annual salary, which currently stands at Rs 1 crore for the chief selector. Encouraged by the proposal, Agarkar decided to apply and is now considered the frontrunner among the applicants.
Interestingly, Agarkar had also applied for the selector’s role in 2020 but was not chosen. This time, however, he stands as the prominent candidate for the position. In a move to entice former players who meet the eligibility criteria for the role, but may be reluctant to apply due to more lucrative sources of income such as commentary and studio expertise, the BCCI has decided to revise the annual salary of the chief selector. The other members of the selection panel currently receive an annual salary of Rs 90 lakh each.
Ajit Agarkar, the former captain of Mumbai, has an impressive cricketing career to his name. He has represented India in 26 Tests, 191 ODIs, and four T20s. Agarkar was part of the victorious 2007 T20 World Cup-winning team, captained by MS Dhoni. The current members of the senior selection committee include Subroto Banerjee, Salil Ankola, Sridharan Sharath, and Shiv Sundar Das, who assumed the role of interim chairman after Sharma’s resignation in February.
To qualify for the selector’s position, a candidate must have played a minimum of 7 Test matches or 30 First Class matches, or 10 One Day Internationals and 20 First Class matches. Additionally, the candidate must have retired from the game at least 5 years prior. Individuals who have served a total of five years on any Cricket Committee are ineligible to become members of the Men’s Selection Committee, as defined in the Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations of BCCI.
Chetan Sharma’s resignation came about following a controversial Zee News sting operation in which he was allegedly heard suggesting that Indian players were using injections to maintain fitness. He also claimed that Hardik Pandya, who has been leading India in the T20Is since the T20 World Cup, frequently visited his house. In the aftermath of Team India’s exit in the semifinals of the T20 World Cup in November, the BCCI decided to replace the entire selection panel. However, Sharma was re-appointed in January this year.
As Agarkar is set to take on the responsibility of the chairman of the senior selection committee, it remains to be seen how his appointment will influence the dynamics of Indian cricket. The BCCI’s decision to offer a higher salary to the chief selector signifies their recognition of the need to attract experienced former players to undertake the crucial task of selecting the national team. With Agarkar’s impressive cricketing background and wealth of experience, he seems well-positioned to make a significant impact in his new role, steering Indian cricket in the right direction.
Overall, Agarkar’s potential appointment as the chairman of the senior selection committee seems to be a positive step for Indian cricket. It reflects the BCCI’s commitment to ensuring a strong and knowledgeable selection panel, capable of choosing the best players for the national team. With his resignation from the assistant coach position of the Delhi Capitals IPL team, Agarkar has clearly prioritized his role as the prospective chief selector and is ready to take on this crucial responsibility.
