Hogwired All about sports In the recent Annual General Meeting of BCCI held at Mumbai, BCCI a renowned cricket governing body announced MSK Prasad to be the new chairman of the selection committee. Prasad will succeed Sandeep Patil. It was for the first time in the history of BCCI that the Board had invited applicants for the top job. It should be noted that MSK Prasad was part of a previous selection panel which was headed by Sandip Patil.
MSK Prasad has played 17 one day internationals and 6 tests for India while Sandeep Patil, the previous chairman of the selection committee has played 45 one-day internationals and 29 Tests. Other members of this five-member selection panel include former off-spinner Sarandeep Singh, former batsmen Gagan Khoda (2 ODIs), Devang Gandhi (4 Tests, 3 ODIs) and Jatin Paranjpe (4 ODIs). BCCI had formed this 5 member selection committee defying orders of the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Committee’s recommendation to have only three selectors all of whom should have played test matches.
Questions are now on the rife why they have selected people for the panel who have very little international experience. BCCI on its defense said that strict criteria were followed during the process of selection to avoid any conflict of interest. For this, the cricket governing body included the applicant who had retired at least five years ago, and who is not associated with an IPL team and also who is not running a coaching academy.
Speaking on the selection process, BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke, in a comment published in espncicinfo.com, stated that the entire selection process of the selection committee included himself, BCCI President Anurag Thakur and chief executive Rahul Johri. He further clarified that BCCI did not have any input from either any former cricketer or any Cricket Advisory Committee. He said, “A lot of applicants came and we also got a first-hand insight into what their ideas are, what they wish to do and their vision. We have got an insight into the kind of manpower that is available to take up different positions in different places within the BCCI. We were very impressed by the inputs given by almost all the candidates.”
MSK Prasad who has only 6 ODI and 17 Test experience under his kitty, does not have any international experience worthy of mention. Hence this move to appoint him as the Chairman definitely will raise a few eyebrows. Shirke, when asked about the appointed of a relatively inexperienced Prasad, said, “Two selectors had finished their four-year terms, the maximum that is granted to anybody. We have filled it up and the senior most person has been elevated to the chairman’s post.”
