BCCI names MSK Prasad as new chairman of selectors

Wednesday 28th September 2016 07:01 EDT
 
 

Board of Control for Cricket in India has named former wicket keeper MSK Prasad as the new chairman of selectors. In their 87th Annual General Meeting (AGM), the board also announced that Ajay Shirke has been re-elected as the board secretary.

The other members in the new selection panel include former cricketers Gagan Khoda, Devang Gandhi, Sarandeep Singh and Jatin Paranjpe. Prasad made his debut for India in 1998 and went on to play six Tests and 17 One-Day Internationals. He retired from all forms in 2008.

Following his appointment, Prasad thanked the outgoing chairman of selectors, Sandeep Patil and revealed that his panel's primary focus will be on the 2019 World Cup and next year's Champions Trophy - both scheduled to be staged in England. "I have a clear-cut vision about how we are heading to the 2019 World Cup," Prasad said.

"I always have kept notes about what I want to do for the 2017 Champions Trophy, for the 2019 World Cup. There is a lot of planning. The best thing is we have watched as many domestic matches as possible. We have done tours to Zimbabwe, Australia only at the end of the season. Because we have watched so much domestic cricket last year we have a succession chart and jotted down names for three different formats. Sandy bhai's team has done a fantastic job. It makes more sense for us to continue with it and move ahead."

Despite the Lodha Committee's recommendation to pick only three former Test cricketers in the selection panel, the BCCI went ahead and retained five. Out of the five, Khoda and Paranjpe haven't played even a single Test. The board also appointed former fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad as chairman of the junior selection committee. Former cricketer Hemlata Kala will replace Shantha Rangaswamy as the chairperson of women's selection panel.

The Working Committee, Special Committees and Standing Committee appointed for the period of 2015-16 will continue. The House also has asked the President and Honorary secretary to nominate an Ombudsman for 2016-17 as Justice AP Shah's tenure has concluded.

Anurag Singh Thakur, the president of BCCI, will be the board's representative in the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC). On the other hand, Sharad Pawar, the former BCCI president, has been appointed as the alternate director for ICC meetings.

Senior Selection Committee: MSK Prasad (Chairman), Gagan Khoda, Sarandeep Singh, Jatin Paranjpe and Devang Gandhi

Junior Selection Committee: Venkatesh Prasad (Chairman), Rakesh Parikh, Aashish Kapoor, Amit Sharma and Gyanendra Pandey

Women's Selection Committee: Hemlata Kala (Chairperson), Shashi Gupta, Anjali Pendharkar, Lopamudra Banerjee and Sudha Shah


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