Former India and Mumbai pacer Salil Ankola has been retained as the chief selector of the Mumbai team, by the Mumbai Cricket Association’s (MCA) Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC). MCA secretary Sanjay Naik confirmed this development to PTI on Tuesday.

Ankola has represented India in 20 ODIs picking 13 wickets along with two wickets to his name in the only Test match he played, against Pakistan in 1989. As far as Ankola’s domestic record is concerned, he played 54 matches and took 181 wickets with the best figures of 6 for 47.

MCA's CIC consists of former India players Jatin Paranjpe, Nilesh Kulkarni and Vinod Kambli.

The 52-year-old was first appointed as Mumbai's chief selector last season, which was shortened owing to COVID-19 pandemic. The committee led by Ankola had picked up the senior squads for the Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq trophies.

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Mumbai went on to win the Vijay Hazare Trophy last season after a disappointing performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the domestic T20 tournament.

Ankola in his recent interaction with PTI, talked about how his focus will be towards the "betterment of Mumbai cricket."

“It is good to be back and hope for the best. My fellow selectors are raring to go. The coach appointed has been fantastic. The BCCI has given us a full itinerary and I am looking forward to the Ranji Trophy,” Ankola told PTI.

“We will try and do our best for Mumbai. The only agenda on my mind is the betterment of Mumbai cricket,” he added.

Since the Ranji Trophy was cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the domestic tournament is back in the itinerary this year in the BCCI announced domestic schedule.

(With PTI Inputs)