Report: Ajit Agarkar might become India’s next chief-selector

ajit agarkar cricket

ajit agarkar

The Indian cricket team finally got its new chief-selector in the form of left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi. The spinner will be the new chairman of the selection committer and will take the place of MSK Prasad, who is the current chief-selector. Joshi made his international debut in 1996 after an amazing season of Ranji Trophy.

The cricketer made 500 runs and took 50 wickets in the 1995-96 season and was included in the Indian squad for the tour of England in the same calendar year. Joshi played a total of 15 Tests fo Team India and picked up 41 wickets while he took 69 wickets in 69 ODIs he played for the Men in Blue.

On Wednesday, it was announced that Joshi will be taking the chair and will be accompanied by Harvinder Singh, who will help in selecting the Indian side for the upcoming tours. However, as soon as Joshi’s name was announced, a lot of people were not happy with the decision and claimed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) went ahead with its zonal policy even when they were selecting the members for the national side.

Other players who applied for the position in the selection committee were former players like Ajit Agarkar, Maninder Singh, and Nayan Mongia, but they failed to make a cut. However, it is now being reported that Agarkar, Singh, and Mongia would not have to apply for the desired positions once again and their applications will be scrutinized when the term of the existing members finishes off.

The existing members are Devang Gandhi, Jatin Paranjpe, and Sarandeep Singh and their terms end in September 2020.

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly made it clear that Agarkar’s application will be reviewed once again when the interviews are held for the new member. Earlier reports suggested that Agarkar was the frontrunner to become the chief-selector but they went ahead with Joshi’s name.

“It was earlier decided that the best candidates should be interviewed. Even the new constitution says so. But later, a section of the BCCI contested that it would result in ignoring a zone altogether,” a senior BCCI official told the media.

Ajit Agarkar

Agarkar was a frequent member of the Indian side in the last 90s and early 2000s. He made his debut under the leadership of Sourav Ganguly and went on to represent India in 191 ODIs. The all-rounder accumulated more 1200 runs and picked up 288 wickets in the 50-over format. He is also the fastest Indian player to achieve 1000 runs and 200 wickets in ODIs and is currently the third-highest wicket-taker for India in the One-Day Internationals.