BCCI to pick selectors through interviews, zonal method scrapped

The BCCI will pick national selectors for the men's, women's and junior selection panels via an interview process for the first time, discarding the previously used zonal method. The deadline for applications closes on September 14 even though the BCCI released the advertisement only on September 10.

With the Lodha Committee deciding to do away with the zonal system, the BCCI was forced to abandon the traditional method of appointing national selectors: based on nominations received from the five zones. The eligibility criteria mentioned by the BCCI in its advertisement also differed from the one set by the Lodha Committee.

According to the Committee's guideline, only former India Test players would be eligible to be appointed to the men's and women's selection committees, provided they had been retired from the game for at least 5 years.

The BCCI's criteria, however, stated: "He/She should have represented the Indian team either in a Test match or a one-day international or more than 50 first-class matches in India, in a team selected by the BCCI to be considered for the Senior National selection Committee."

For the junior panel, the BCCI wanted eligible candidates to have played more than 50 first-class matches in India, compared to the Lodha Committee's recommendation of "a minimum of 25 first-class games."

The BCCI also set an age cap of 60 for the eligible candidates, and said that an applicant cannot be a former national selector, be associated with an IPL franchise in any position, run a cricket academy, or have a criminal record.

The BCCI did not make it clear whether it would adhere to the Lodha Committee's decision to restrict the selection committees to three members as opposed to five. "The Men's Selection Committee shall consist of three persons to be appointed by the Board at the Annual General Meeting, on such terms and conditions as may be decided by the Apex Council from time to time. The senior most Test cap among the members of the Committee shall be appointed as the Chairperson," the Lodha Committee Report said.

That recommendation did not find favour among former national selectors, who felt pruning the panel would be detrimental and result in too heavy a workload, given the size of the country and the number of first-class teams involved.