Ajit Agarkar Set to Become BCCI Committee Chairman
Former India all-rounder Ajit Agarkar is poised to take over as the chairman of the senior selection committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This position has remained vacant since February 17 when former fast bowler Chetan Sharma resigned amidst a sting operation controversy. Agarkar’s appointment follows discussions with BCCI officials, who offered to increase the annual salary for the chief selector to attract qualified candidates.
Agarkar’s Application and Departure from Delhi Capitals
Responding to the promise of a higher salary, Agarkar decided to apply for the position, becoming the most prominent name among the applicants. Notably, BCCI had previously overlooked him in 2020 when he had applied for the selector’s role. To pursue his candidacy, Agarkar recently stepped down from his position as assistant coach of the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Delhi Capitals.
Salary Revision Motivation
The BCCI has chosen to revise the annual salary for the chief selector due to the hesitancy of former players, who meet the eligibility criteria but prefer higher-paying income sources such as commentary and studio expertise.
Ajit Agarkar’s Cricket Career and Credentials
Ajit Agarkar, former captain of Mumbai, boasts an impressive cricketing career, representing India in 26 Tests, 191 ODIs, and four T20s. He was part of the victorious 2007 T20 World Cup squad led by MS Dhoni.
Current and Eligibility Criteria for Selection Committee Members
The current members of the senior selection committee are Subroto Banerjee, Salil Ankola, Sridharan Sharath, and interim chairman Shiv Sundar Das. To be eligible for the selector’s post, a candidate must have played a minimum of 7 Test matches, 30 First Class matches, or 10 One Day International matches, as well as 20 First Class matches. Additionally, candidates must have retired from professional cricket at least 5 years ago and should not have been a member of any Cricket Committee for a total of five years.
Background on Chetan Sharma’s Resignation
Chetan Sharma resigned following a sting operation by Zee News, during which he allegedly made controversial statements about Indian players using injections to maintain fitness. Sharma was later re-appointed in January after the BCCI revamped the entire selection panel following Team India’s T20 World Cup exit.
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