Former wicketkeeper-batsman MSK Prasad was named chairman of selectors, while Ajay Shirke was re-elected Secretary in the BCCI’s 87th Annual General Meeting today during which the Board decided to call for an emergent meet on September 30 to consider implementation of the Lodha Committee recommendations here.
The AGM was held under the shadow of Lodha Committee recommendations, which have called for sweeping reforms in the Board’s functioning, something that the BCCI has been distinctly opposed to.
“The emergent Special General Meeting of the BCCI will be held on 30th September 2016 at 11 AM IST at the BCCI headquarters, Mumbai to consider the amendments to the rules and regulations of BCCI as recommended by Hon’ble Justice Lodha Committee,” the Board said in a statement.
In today’s meeting the Board decided to appoint a selection committee in complete defiance of the Lodha Committee guidelines, which had called for a three-member panel instead of five with all members having Test experience.
In fact, the new selection committee has a combined international experience of 13 Tests and 31 ODIs.
The BCCI chose Prasad to lead the new senior selection committee, replacing Sandeep Patil.
The 41-year-old Prasad, hailing from Andhra Pradesh, played six Tests and 17 ODIs in his brief international career.
Gagan Khoda, who has not played any Test cricket was retained in the committee from the central zone.
Devang Gandhi, Jatin Paranjpe and Sarandeep Singh were the new additions to the selection panel. Of the three, Paranjpe does not have Test experience and has only played ODIs.
Former India seamer Venkatesh Prasad was retained as chairman of the junior selection committee. Incidentally former pacer has far more experience than the senior selection committee chairman.
The Board claimed that today’s AGM was meant to ensure that the “day-to-day operations of the BCCI are not hampered particularly in view of the ongoing major national and international tournaments, commitments and is subject to the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
