The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to rejig the selection panel after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2022, with chief selector Chetan Sharma’s fate hanging in balance as well.
The Chetan Sharma-led committee’s performance hasn’t been up to the mark and curtains could be brought down on the panel unless India does well at the ongoing ICC event in Australia.
"A lot will depend on how India fares at the T20 World Cup. There aren't too many people who are very happy with Chetan at the moment. But he will remain till BCCI selects the new Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC)," a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
While the Indian cricket board will wait for Chetan Sharma, East Zone's Debasish Mohanty will have to vacate the post for someone else as he will complete a cumulative four years in junior and senior selection panel.
"The rule that was applicable with Abbey Kuruvilla will also apply to Debu Mohanty. Debu was inducted by the COA in junior panel in early 2019 and he had served two years till 2021 before being upgraded to senior panel after Devang Gandhi completed his tenure," the official added.
Mohanty will complete his four years in a few months and will have to move on thereafter. However, it remains to be seen whether he will be relieved of his duties before the completion of four years or after.
There aren't too many eligible Test cricketers for the job from the East Zone. Two former cricketers, who could be in contention, are Shiv Sunder Das of Odisha and Bengal's Deep Dasgupta.
While some reports suggest that Ranadeb Bose, a junior national selector, could be in the fray but he hasn’t represented India at the highest level. Former ODI players Laxmi Ratan Shukla of Bengal and Sanjay Raul of Odisha are the other eligible candidates. India pacer Umesh Yadav's coach Subroto Banerjee could also be a choice.
Meanwhile, the West Zone selection seat is yet to be filled after Kuruvilla moved into operational work of BCCI following the completion of his four years (including three years in junior panel).
Last time, former India pacer Ajit Agarkar was the ideal candidate among all applicants but objections from his own state unit Mumbai Cricket Association became an obstacle. The only person, who despite non-performance might survive is Karnataka man and South Zone candidate Sunil Joshi.
(With PTI inputs)
