Sivaramakrishnan, Chauhan, Mongia apply for National selector’s post

A section in the Board feels it is time to move away from the conventional zonal policy, some feel it’s best to stick the tried and tested practice.

Former India leg-spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan along with Ravi Shastri, current head coach of Team India during an ICC meeting. (File Photo)

 A day before the deadline to apply for two vacant slots in the senior selection committee, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is still mulling over whether to move away from the convention of appointing a representative from each of the five zones.

The BCCI last week issued an advertisement inviting applications for the two slots in the five-member panel, to be vacated by chairman M.S.K. Prasad (south zone) and Gagan Khoda (central zone). In accordance with the apex court-directed administrative reforms, the advertisement had no mention of the zonal criteria.

Sportstar understands that a section in the Board feels it is time for the BCCI to move away from the conventional zonal policy, some of the office-bearers feel it’s best to stick the tried and tested practice. Sanjay Jagdale, who has served Indian cricket in various capacities including secretary and national selector, isn’t sure whether Indian cricket is ready to move to a non-partisan selection panel?

“Personally, I don’t think it’s the right way to go about it. Although it should not be like that but I don’t think we are ready to move beyond the zonal policy,” Jagdale told Sportstar .

“The success of deviation depends on people who are employed as selectors. If you have people with integrity to cricket, then there’s no harm in in but if you have political leanings in terms of cricket in appointments, then it will not work and be unfair.”

-Siva, Mongia in fray-

L. Sivaramakrishnan, the former India leggie, former India wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia, former India batsman Amay Khurasiya and former offspinner Rajesh Chauhan confirmed to Sportstar on Thursday that they have formally applied for the selector’s post.

Zonal policy or otherwise, Sivaramakrishnan will be a leading contender.  Siva’s closest competitors could be the former India pacers duo - from south and west zone - should both apply on Friday.

If the BCCI - which is yet to formalise the Cricket Advisory Committee that’s supposed to conduct interviews of shortlisted candidates - decides to stick to the zonal policy, then Khurasiya and Chauhan will emerge as leading contenders from the central zone to replace Khoda.