BCCI Secretary Talks About Selection Committee’s Future
On Friday, Devajit Saikia, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), addressed reporters regarding the future of Ajit Agarkar as the chairman of the senior selection committee. He stated that there are still 15 days remaining until Agarkar’s current term expires, which is set for October 4.
Agarkar recently led his last selection meeting in New Delhi, where the teams were finalized for India’s upcoming white-ball series against the West Indies. Saikia mentioned that no decision has been made yet about Agarkar’s extension or potential replacement. Instead, BCCI office-bearers will have the authority to determine the fate of the senior selection committee going forward.
“We still have a couple of weeks left. In cricket, 15 days can mean a lot. We’ll make a decision in due time and keep you informed. No discussions about individuals took place today,” Saikia stated after the BCCI’s 95th Annual General Meeting in Mumbai.
The AGM did not resolve whether Agarkar would be keeping his role. The timing of this uncertainty is significant, as India prepares for a crucial home series against New Zealand and gears up for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Adding to the speculation about Agarkar’s status, he missed a recent BCCI review meeting, which led to questions about his future. Saikia explained Agarkar was unavailable due to being out of town at short notice and faced connectivity issues that prevented his participation online. He confirmed there were no talks regarding changes in the selection committee at that meeting.
In addition, the BCCI is moving ahead with plans to establish a new junior selection committee. Saikia noted that a substantial number of applications have been received, and the process should wrap up within the next 10 to 15 days.
New Junior Selection Committee Coming Soon
The new junior selection committee will be formed soon, following interviews by the Cricket Advisory Committee. “We’ve received numerous applications for the junior selection committee, which will be reviewed by our cricket committee responsible for choosing the selectors. We aim to finish this in the next couple of weeks,” he said.
The BCCI had called for applications for all five positions on the Junior Cricket Committee in August. This panel will be in charge of selecting India’s teams for age groups up to Under-22.
Short-Term Appointment for Fielding Coach
Saikia also provided an update on Subhadeep Ghosh, who has recently been named as the fielding coach for the Indian men’s team on a temporary basis. Ghosh, a former player for Assam in the Ranji Trophy, stepped into the role following the exit of T Dilip.
“The appointment of the Indian men’s fielding coach, Subhadeep Ghosh, is only for a short period for now. We will assess his performance for a potential long-term engagement,” Saikia explained. His performance will likely be evaluated after the New Zealand tour, influencing the BCCI’s decision regarding his continuation through the 2027 ODI World Cup.
