SUNIL JOSHI REPLACES MSK AS CHIEF SELECTOR OF BCCI
Harvinder was chosen from central zone and replaces Gagan Khoda in the panel
MUMBAI: Former India spinner Sunil Joshi was on Wednesday named chairman of the national selection panel by the BCCI’S Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), which also picked ex-pacer Harvinder Singh in the five-member group.
The CAC, comprising Madan Lal, R P Singh and Sulakshana Naik, named the two selectors. Joshi replaces MSK Prasad (South Zone), who had an extended run after completing his four-year tenure.
“The committee recommended Mr Sunil Joshi for the role of Chairman of the senior men’s selection committee,” read a statement from BCCI Secretary Jay Shah.
In an unprecedented decision, the BCCI said the CAC will review the panel’s performance after one year and “make recommendations” accordingly.
Harvinder was chosen from central zone and replaces Gagan Khoda in the panel.
The existing members of the selection panel are Jatain Paranjpe (West), Devang Gandhi (East) and Sarandeep Singh (North).
“We have picked the best guys for the job. We picked them (Joshi and Harvinder) because they were clear in their views,” Lal told PTI.
Specifically on Joshi, Lal said: “We liked his straightforward attitude. He is experienced also (having been part of the Bangladesh support staff)”.
The CAC had shortlisted five candidates for interviews — Joshi, Harvinder, Venkatesh Prasad, Rajesh Chauhan and L
S Sivaramakrishnan — from a list of 40 applicants.
The likes of Ajit Agarkar and Nayan Mongia did not even make the short-list but the former will be back in contention after Paranjpe’s term ends in September along with Gandhi and Sarandeep.
Joshi’s selection from South Zone and Harvinder getting picked from Central Zone also shows that the Board has stuck with the zonal policy. Their predecessors, Prasad and Khoda,