The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has authorised their office bearers to take a call on the future of the men’s senior selection committee headed by Ajit Agarkar, and vice president Rajeev Shukla confirmed this after the Board’s 95th Annual General Meeting in Mumbai.
The members of the BCCI entrusted office bearers with deciding whether Agarkar should be given an extension or whether the Board should begin the process of finding his replacement.
The chairman of selectors’ contract is also set to end early next month, putting his future at the centre of discussions within the Indian cricket board.
“Arun Singh Dhumal, Majumdar retain IPL governing council posts; AGM authorises office-bearers to take a decision on selectors,” said Rajiv Shukla after attending the meeting at the BCCI headquarters, leaving the decision on Agarkar’s future open-ended.
Ajit Agarkar was appointed chairman of the men’s senior selection committee in July 2023. His tenure is set to end next month, and the BCCI will now have to decide whether to extend his contract or initiate the process of appointing a new chairman.
If the Board goes against extension, it will not be able to appoint a replacement immediately. The BCCI will have to advertise the position, conduct interviews and name the new chairman, meaning the process could take some time.
The BCCI is also looking to fill all five locations in the junior selection committee. The AGM’s authorisation gives the office-bearers the mandate to take decisions on matters concerning the selection committees.
The 95th AGM was attended by representatives of the BCCI’s affiliated state member associations. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, representing the Cricket Association of Bengal and former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad of the Karnataka State Cricket Association were present.
BCCI president Mithun Manhas, vice-president Rajeev Shukla, secretary Devajit Saikia, Bengal Cricket Association president Sourav Ganguly and Jharkhand State Cricket Association secretary Saurabh Tiwary were also among the officials who attended the meeting.
It will be interesting to see who will remain on the selection committee, with the BCCI office-bearers now authorised to decide whether Agarkar continues as chairman or makes way for a new leader.