Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) is set to retain five-selector policy despite Lodha Panel’s suggestions to trim it for just three-member committee.
“You can’t have three selectors in a country as vast as India. The Board wants to pick five selectors because reducing the numbers to three isn’t going to help Indian cricket,” a BCCI official told TOI.
“The fact that BCCI has laid down the conditions for the selectors means it is serious about appointing a fresh bunch. Lodha panel’s suggestions on governance are being considered by the board, but the panel can’t dictate even in cricketing matters,” he added.
The board has invited applications for new selectors and have given the deadline of 14th September before choosing the new selection committee. The criteria for the post includes an age cap of 60 years with an experience of one Test or ODI or 50 first-class matches.
However, a source close to Lodha panel has defended the change for three-member selection committee as the selectors would be backed by another ‘Cricket Talent Committee’.
“Three members would be enough, because they’d be supported by a three-member ‘Cricket Talent Committee’, which would be responsible for scouting talent around the country, and informing the selectors about it.
“This committee would consist of three former first class players (who would’ve played a minimum of 20 matches), so it’s not as if we are ignoring the credentials of former first class players.
“We recommended ex-Test cricketers to be selectors because they’d have an idea of all the conditions around the world. Don’t you look for similar experience when you hire an India coach?” said the source.
“We’re happy though that the BCCI is at least setting the reforms suggested by us in motion, even if partly. Their move to hire the selectors in a professional manner is an encouraging sign for the future.”
The BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke has defended the age cap of 60 as the board feels that it is important to encourage fresh faces who are not too old.
He said: “Most of the former players who’ve served their four-year term as selectors are older than 60. We need to encourage fresh faces. We don’t want ex-cricketers who’re too old (above 60), and who would’ve never played much of the shorter forms of the game.”