Indian selectors may get three-year term

The Indian board has decided not to make any changes to the existing process of appointing selectors, apart from a possible extension of the panel's tenure to three years instead of the current system of annual re-elections.

"We think it is a good system and no change is needed. But the selectors also need time to settle down like us (officials) and three years is perfect," Niranjan Shah, the board's secretary told the Times of India.

The BCCI also opted to retain the five-man selection panel instead of moving to a three-man panel as had been suggested by many within the board and refused to make playing experience the main criterion for the appointment. "Our structure will crumble if we have a three-man panel. We depend on the zonal system and, if we change, administratively it will be a huge problem," said Shah. "You cannot say a player who has played 10 Tests is good and the others are bad. What is needed are men of integrity."

A Special General Meeting (SGM) of the board is to be held in Mumbai on June 1 where a decision will be taken on the amendment of the rules and regulations of the BCCI as suggested by the Constitution Review Committee. These changes will be put to vote in this meeting, and a two-third majority is required to put them into effect.

The SGM will also discuss affairs of women's cricket though Shah felt that a merger between the two boards is unlikely. "Women's cricket have a different state structure than us. So again it will be a problem of working things out administratively."