The BCCI still has to announce the replacement for the outgoing chief selector and the Central Zone in-charge, MSK Prasad and Gagan Khoda respectively. There is strong speculation on who the final candidate will be, as the BCCI has not yet given any statements to the media. The final four applicants will be interviewed by the CAC sometime soon.
MSK Prasad, who was a former wicket-keeper for the Indian cricket team, was handed over the reins of the chief selector all the way in 2016. There was speculation that his role in the BCCI will be increased by one more year. However, during the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting, held in the first week of December 2019, the board decided to start looking for a new chief selector.
As per reports of Times Now, twenty-one candidates applied, out of which four have been finally selected for the interview. The BCCI has now shortlisted four candidates including Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, Ajit Agarkar, Venkatesh Prasad, and Rajesh Chauhan and they are set to be interviewed by the Cricket Advisory committee members Madan Lal, Rudra Pratap Singh, and Sulakshana Nail.
As per the new rules of the board, the zonal system has been removed, but the BCCI is looking to continue with the old model to maintain proper balance. There is no official announcement being made by the cricket board. However, the overall selection procedure is expected to be completed within 10 days by the end of February.
India is currently on tour in New Zealand and is gearing up for a two-match Test series. They will then face South Africa in a three-match ODI series, which begins on March 12, under the watchful eye of the newly appointed selector.
Earlier, the BCCI courted controversy when Sivaramakrishnan’s application CV to the BCCI went missing from the board’s inbox. As a result, the board had to reconsider some names for the final interview.
