Former Indian all-rounder Ajit Agarkar has been appointed as the BCCI’s new chairman of selectors for the men’s team. The 45-year-old Agarkar has replaced Chetan Sharma who left this position in February after a sting operation carried out on him by a TV channel landed him in some big trouble.
Agarkar will now join a team comprising a five-member panel including Shiv Sunder Das, Salil Ankola, Subroto Banerjee, and S Sharath.
The news of the same was announced by Jay Shah, the BCCI’s honorary Secretary, via an official statement that read:
“The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), consisting of Ms Sulakshana Naik, Mr Ashok Malhotra, and Mr Jatin Paranjape, interviewed applicants for the position of one selector in the Men’s Selection Committee. The three-member CAC has unanimously recommended Mr Ajit Agarkar for the said position.
The former India all-rounder represented the country in 26 Tests, 191 ODIs, and four T20Is, in addition to playing 110 first-class, 270 List A, and 62 T20 matches. As a former fast bowler, he was part of India’s victorious squad in the inaugural T20 World Cup held in South Africa in 2007. He still holds the record for the fastest half-century by an Indian batter in ODI, achieved with a 21-ball fifty against Zimbabwe in 2000. He also held the record for being the fastest to reach 50 ODI wickets for nearly a decade, accomplishing the milestone in just 23 matches.
Following his playing career, he was appointed as the Chief Selector for the senior Mumbai Team and undertook coaching responsibilities with the Delhi Capitals.
The committee further recommended Mr Agarkar for the role of Chairperson of the Men’s Selection Committee based on seniority (total number of Test matches).”
BCCI’s Men’s Selection Committee: Ajit Agarkar (Chairperson), Shiv Sundar Das, Subroto Banerjee, Salil Ankola, Sridharan Sharath.
Ajit Agarkar is by far the most experienced member of the panel, having played 26 Tests, 191 ODIs, and 4 T20I. In the current selection committee, the four members have a combined international experience of 55 international games. Agarkar has also played 42 IPL games. Agarkar has also served as a chairman of selectors for Mumbai in domestic cricket from 2017 to 2019.
Last week, Ajit Agarkar relinquished his assistant coach’s post in the IPL franchise Delhi Capitals.
The BCCI might have to increase the annual remuneration of Rs 1 crore offered to the chairman of selectors and Rs 90 lakh for the other members of the panel because Ajit Agarkar, as an assistant coach with DC and as a commentator, was earning more than a current annual package of the chief selector.
