Race For The Two New National Selectors: Two Among These Four Ahead In The Race

BCCI in its advertisement had stated that the former cricketers should have played at least 7 Test matches or 30 first class matches or 10 ODI s and 20 first class matches in order to be eligible for the race.

New Delhi: Precisely 15 days are left for the start of the India- South Africa ODI Series and the first match will be played in Dharamshala on 12th March. In a year when the T20 World Cup will be played and when Virat Kohli has already said that their focus is on T20 cricket, the level of interest around the clash between India and South Africa is relatively less. To add to this, BCCI is all set to release key cricketers like Shikhar Dhawan, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Shami and Rishabh Pant for the series between Asia XI and World XI to be played on 18th and 21st March in Dhaka. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul can also join these four and play one match each.

In this scenario the focus is not on the upcoming series but on the men who will select the cricketers for the series. Yes, we are talking about the national selectors. After former chief selector MSK Prasad and Gagan Khoda finished their respective terms, BCCI had advertised for the two vacant positions and several former cricketers had applied for the positions . Nayan Mongia , Laxman ShivaramaKrishnan, Chetan Sharma, Venkatesh Prasad , Ajit Agarkar , Abey Kuruvilla , Rajesh Chauhan and Amay Khurasiya had shown their interests and following this the board had constituted a three member committee comprised of former cricketers Madan Lal, RP Singh and former Indian women's team member Sulakshana Naik.

With the interview process is just around the corner four names are ahead in the race and certainly as of now Laxman Sivaramakrishnan and Rajesh Chauhan are the favorites to make the cut. Shiva who played 9 Test matches and Rajesh Chauhan who played 21 will face a tough challenge from Venkatesh Prasad and Ajit Agarkar though , who have played 33 and 26 Test matches respectively. Jatin Paranjpe is already there as a selector from the West Zone and this is one of the obstacle on the way of Ajit Agarkar to get into the panel. Though according to the new rule the zonal representation policy has been abolished but to run an organisation like BCCI the balance between different zones needs to be maintained in order to make the state cricket associations happy and this will play an important role. This is why two selectors from one particular zone looks unlikely. A few days back BCCI President Sourav Ganguly had clarified that the senior most among the selected panel members will take the role of the chief selector. Even after the clarification of ''Dada" it is not clear whether most Test cap or the earliest Test cap will be counted as the senior most.

BCCI in its advertisement had stated that the former cricketers should have played at least 7 Test matches or 30 first class matches or 10 ODI s and 20 first class matches in order to be eligible for the race. In addition to that it was stated that the cricketers should have retired at least 5 years ago and should be less than 60 years of age . A senior cricket official from the south on the condition of anonymity told ABP News that , "If you don't select Shiva now then he can never become a national selector as he is nearing 60 while the others will still get a chance in future if the age restrictions remain the same. This is why BCCI should give him a chance now ". Everyone is aware of former BCCI Chief N Srinivasan's proximity to Shivaramakrishnan . Though Shrini is no more there in the cricket board but his word still counts and sources have confirmed that N Shrinivasan wants the former leg spinner to become the next chief selector.

Now in case Laxman Shivramakrishnan becomes the chief selector , it will become difficult for the second person from the same zone to get in and as a result Venkatesh Prasad might find it difficult if this happens to be true.

Rajesh Chauhan is looking like a certain choice whatever the permutations combinations are. If BCCI finally decides to for one selector from one zone system then Ajit Agarkar will fail to make the cut and only one among Shiva and Prasad will be there . In this scenario Rajesh Chauhan will sneak in.

A senior BCCI official has confirmed that the date for the interview process has not yet been confirmed as most of them were busy with the show at the Motera stadium . ABP News have spoken to at least two of the probable candidates and both of them have said that they haven't received a call for the interview yet. A  member of the Cricket Advisory Committee has also confirmed that they will decide about the date of interview in a day or two. Since the team for the South Africa series has to be chosen at least a week before the start which is 12th March , it looks like the CAC members will give at least a couple of days for the new selectors to adjust themselves in at their new role and select them by March 3.