2007 World Cup winner to apply for India's National Selector's role

Former Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar has given his name for the role of India’s national selector after the Indian Cricket Board sacked the entire selection committee following the 20-20 World Cup blunder. Agarkar, who was the favourite to become the chairman of the selection committee, failed to land the job last time. He is currently the coach of the Delhi franchise in the Indian T20 League. But to apply for this role, he has to quit the position. 

Indian Cricket Board has invited fresh applications to elect the five-member selection committee. Indian Cricket Board has given November 28 as the last date. However, they will have to hire a new Cricket Advisory Committee first.

Criteria for National Selectors

1. Should have played 7 Test matches / 30 First Class matches /10 ODI and 20 First Class matches.
2. Should have retired from the game at least 5 years ago.
3. No person who has been a member of any Cricket Committee (as defined in the rules and regulations of BCCI) for a total of 5 years shall be eligible to be a member of the Men’s Selection Committee.

“We haven’t spoken to Ajit about it today. It’s absolutely his choice whether he would leave his IPL role and apply for the selector's job. But obviously, he was very close last time and we would be happy to have him. He is someone young with a lot of experience in playing all three formats besides IPL. His inputs and experiences would be invaluable. He has also worked with young players and he understands in and out of the domestic structure,” a senior Indian Cricket Board official told InsideSport.

Ajit Agarkar's Career:

• Tests: Matches: 26, Wickets: 58
• ODIs: Matches: 191, Wickets: 288
• T20Is: 4, Wickets: 3
• First Class: 110, Wickets: 299
• List A: Matches: 270, Wickets: 420
• T20s: Matches: 62, Wickets: 47

Agarkar is the first one to apply for this role from West Zone. After Abbey Kuruvilla’s tenure ended after the 20-20 World Cup 2021, the post is vacant. Earlier, Agarkar was the selector for the domestic side.

Former Indian opener, Sorav Ganguly is also now free and eligible after serving as Indian Cricket Board President for three years. It is unlikely that he would work for the Indian Cricket Board, having led the board for three years.

It’s less than a week after India’s exit from the 20-20 World Cup, the Indian Cricket Board had a dig at Chetan Sharma as Chief Selector. The board has removed the entire Selection Committee in an unorthodox fashion.

“There had to be a change and have to admit there were a few wrong decisions in selection. We needed a fresh start. Some of their tenures were ending and we had to start fresh with a new approach and new mindset. We did not get the results we wanted and after Jay and Ashish came back from Melbourne, we decided, it would be best to have a completely new panel,” an Indian Cricket Board official told InsideSport.