Former India spinner Pragyan Ojha is reportedly serving as the interim chief selector of the BCCI’s national selection committee following the departure of Ajit Agarkar.
According to PTI, Ojha, who played 24 Tests for India, was among the four selectors who held a lengthy discussion with head coach Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday ahead of the second ODI against the West Indies in Guwahati. Shiv Sundar Das, Ajay Ratra and R P Singh were also present.
The meeting is said to have focused on India’s upcoming tour of New Zealand, with the selectors set to finalise squads for the five-match T20I and ODI series as well as the two-Test series. They will also pick the India A squad for three Tests.
India’s New Zealand tour will run from October 22 to November
27, with the first Test scheduled in Wellington on November 19. With the final ODI ending on November 15, some Test players could be released early to begin preparations for the red-ball series.
No chief selector finalised?
Agarkar’s contract ends early next month, and Ojha serving as the interim chief selector is, well, interesting. He was heavily criticised for his work as the South Zone selector during the recent Duleep Trophy.
It also confirms that the BCCI has not yet found an adequate replacement. Parthiv Patel was said to be the frontrunner earlier this month. There won’t be any concern if the confirmation is delayed a couple more weeks because the decision is so critical for the team’s future.
“As far as Ajit Agarkar is concerned, his tenure is going to be over on 4th of October and we have sufficient time till 4th,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia recently told PTI Videos. “We are going to take a decision regarding the vacant position which will be there after 4th of October. Once any decision is taken by BCCI, we will definitely announce it in public domain,” he added.
However, if it’s delayed more than that, then there should definitely be some worry regarding the future of the team and the processes, because the 2027 World Cup is now less than a year away.
