In an official announcement made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on July 4, former Indian fast bowler Ajit Agarkar was named the new Chairman of the Indian Senior Men’s Selection Committee. This appointment comes after the position had been vacant since Chetan Sharma resigned in February earlier this year due to viral video.
The Cricket Advisory Committee, consisting of Sulakshana Naik, Ashok Malhotra, and Jatin Paranjape, unanimously recommended him to head the selection panel. The recommendation speaks to Agarkar’s experience and knowledge of the game, making him a suitable candidate for the prestigious role.
To be eligible for the chief selector’s post, as per the BCCI’s notification inviting applications, the candidate must have played a minimum of seven Tests or 30 First-Class matches or 10 ODIs and 20 First-Class matches. Additionally, the applicant should have retired from the game at least five years prior. Agarkar’s illustrious cricket career includes representing India in 26 Tests, 191 ODIs, and four T20Is. He has also played 110 first-class matches, 270 List A games, and 62 T20 matches.
Ajit Agarkar’s on-field achievements are noteworthy. During his playing days for India, he established himself as a prominent fast bowler. Notably, he became the fastest to reach 50 ODI wickets, achieving the feat in just 23 matches. Moreover, Agarkar holds the record for scoring the fastest half-century in ODIs for India, off just 21 balls against Zimbabwe in the year 2000. His contributions to Indian cricket have earned him a well-deserved place in the annals of the sport.
Agarkar’s first task as the Chairman of the Indian Senior Men’s Selection Committee will be to select the T20I squad for the upcoming tour of the West Indies. The Test and ODI teams for the same tour have already been selected by the panel led by interim chairman Shiv Sundar Das. Agarkar’s extensive experience as a player and his astute cricketing acumen will undoubtedly prove valuable in shaping the future of Indian cricket and ensuring the selection of a balanced and competitive squad.
