Amre takes fresh guard, heads panel

Short and workmanlike Pravin Amre’s biggest claim to fame had been the century he scored on his debut for India in South Africa during ...

Short and workmanlike Pravin Amre’s biggest claim to fame had been the century he scored on his debut for India in South Africa during the historic tour of 1992. A decade since, this middle-order batsman is now padded up for another innings as chairman of the junior selection committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Chosen for the job at BCCI’s AGM held over the last weekend at Kolkata, Amre says ‘‘it’s another role to contribute to cricket.’’ The appointment came as a surprise for this unassuming 35-year-old, who made his foray as a selector in the Mumbai junior committee last year. He heads the Mumbai under-15 selection panel, too.

Amre will be the new entrant replacing the West Zone selector Bhagirth Thakore while the remaining members of the panel — V Chamundeswaranath (former chairman), Anurag Thakur, Ranjib Biswal and Hyder Ali — retain their places.

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A product of the famed Ramakant Achrekar stable at Shivaji Park, Amre says his association with the game over the years has honed his abilities to spot talent. ‘‘By playing for different teams at the domestic level (he has represented Mumbai, Railways, Rajasthan, Bengal and Goa) and one season in South Africa for Boland in 1991 (he helped them win the championship that year) I have picked the art of spotting talent and knowledge of what constitutes to the making of a champion side.’’

Amre, who has also been coaching at the Shivaji Park Gymkhana, says Achrekar was a master at grooming talent. And all that he learnt will be put into practice in his latest role, opines Amre. As a selector, he aims to emulate the Aussies. ‘‘They (Aussies) pick the right players for different roles.’’ But for all that to happen, Amre points out, ‘‘just like the game itself, selection is also a team game.’’

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