Former India cricketer-turned-actor Salil Ankola has been named as the new chairman of the senior selection committee of the Mumbai Cricket Association on Wednesday (December 16).
The 52-year-old is now the chairman of selectors for all first-class teams of the Mumbai cricket for the forthcoming domestic season, starting January 10 with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
The other members of the MCA’s selection committee are Sanjay Patil, Ravindra Thaker, Zulfiqar Parkar and Ravi Kulkarni with the head coach of the team will be named shortly.
In a statement issued by the MCA, the state body stated that the latest appointment has been made based on the recommendation by the Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC) headed by former India opener and manager Lalchand Rajput.
Ankola featured in a lone Test and 20 ODIs for India, apart from playing 54 first-class and 75 List A matches during his cricket career between 1988 to 1997.
MCA said in the release: “Cricket Improvement Committee of MCA ... has made the following appointments for the season 2020-21 (ending 31st March 2021): Senior Selection Committee: Salil Ankola - Chairman, Sanjay Patil, Ravindra Thaker, Zulfiqar Parkar and Ravi Kulkarni.”
On the other hand, Rajput told TOI, “Ankola is a former India player who wanted to give something back to the game, which is why applied for the job and showed keen interest. Our committee made him the chief selector because we felt that he was the only former Test cricketer amongst the applicants.
With this move, we have given a strong signal that we want more Test players to serve Mumbai cricket. Former cricketers who want to serve Mumbai cricket will be welcomed to do so by this committee. They will be respected and be given the opportunity to serve Mumbai cricket in various capacities.”
Meanwhile, the former pacer had to retire from the game due to a sudden development of a bone tumor in his left shin bone (osteoid osteoma) which forced him to not run for 2 years, and eventually, he had to switch to a career in acting.
He made a name for himself in the Indian daily soaps, and few Hindi films apart from appearing in several reality shows including Big Boss in 2001.
Well, Ankola has now quit acting after 20 years as his first love “cricket” called him back, revealing the move to apply for the chairman of selectors post was suggested actually a year-and-a-half back.
He told Times of India, “Bees Saal Acting Kar li (I acted for 20 years). But there was always a certain emptiness in my stomach. Cricket was my first love and I was always missing it. I had given them (MCA) options. I wanted to be a coach or selector. I just wanted to get myself involved. I just wanted to be part of the game and help the boys.
I had earned enough money, now it’s about the satisfaction of my soul. They suggested that I apply for the post of Chairman of the selection committee of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy. But I never knew that I would get such a coveted post,”
The new MCA chief selector wrote on Facebook: “Back to where I belong. Proud to be back to Cricket as Chairman of selectors Mumbai senior Ranji trophy team. Back to my first love. Thanks to my association and fellow cricketers for having faith and trust in me. Looking forward. Thanks for always being there for me kiddos and Ria Banerjee Ankola.”
Ankola concluded, “I have been thinking of making a comeback for the last 5 years and in the past one year I have spoken to lot of my friends seriously with the wish to come back and do something for Mumbai Cricket in any capacity for that matter. My heart lies here and I dream to contribute to Mumbai’s domestic success especially that the results have not been great for some time. I hope I can play a role in making Mumbai a Ranji Champion once again.”
(With PTI/TOI Inputs)
