The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to overhaul both its men's and women's selection committees, with an advertisement for new positions already posted on its website. The men's panel is looking to add two new national selectors, while the women's selection committee, currently led by Neetu David, is in for a complete revamp. The deadline to apply for all selector posts is September 10.
As per BCCI norms, candidates for the men’s national selector position must have an impressive playing record, including at least seven Tests, 30 first-class matches, or 10 ODIs and 20 first-class matches. There are no such strict eligibility criteria for the women's or junior selection posts. However, a universal rule across all categories is that a candidate must have been retired for at least five years to be eligible. The current women's selection committee, which recently picked the squad for the upcoming Women's World Cup, includes Neetu David, Aarti Vaidya, Shama Shaw, and Renu Margret.
Sources indicate that former India left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha is a frontrunner to become a national selector for the men's team, representing the South Zone. Ojha's appointment would likely be the only change to the men's committee, with Sridharan Sharath, whose term is ending, expected to make way for him. Sharath, however, might not leave the system altogether, with reports suggesting he could return to his previous role as the junior chief selector. The new appointments across all committees will be officially ratified at the BCCI's Annual General Meeting (AGM) next month.
Ojha, 38, retired from international cricket in February 2020 after a successful career that saw him take 113 wickets in 24 Tests and 21 wickets in 18 ODIs. His inclusion in the selection committee would bring a fresh perspective. Meanwhile, the BCCI has also issued a new directive to state associations. Upset with the non-selection of top players like KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj for the Duleep Trophy squad, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that a mandatory advisory has been sent. "We have made it mandatory that all the international players, when they are available, they need to play domestic matches," Saikia said. "The advisory has been sent to the state associations to remind them of this clause."
This move comes after the BCCI renewed the contract of chief selector and former India pacer Ajit Agarkar for another year, following India's consecutive wins in the T20 World Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy.