BCCI to retain five-member selection committee

FEB 6: In order to give wider scope for cricketers to become National selectors, the Constitution Committee of the Board of Control for Cr...

FEB 6: In order to give wider scope for cricketers to become National selectors, the Constitution Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to retain the existing five-member selection committee, but recommended a more liberal qualification system.

Speaking to PTI here today, Ashok Kumbhat, TamilNadu Cricket Association secretary, said the Committee had rejected BCCI’s proposal to reduce the number of senior selection committee members, from five to three and had also suggested that 20 first class matches be the limit for selection, instead of 15 test matches.

The Committee, comprising K Subba Rao, Chairman and Shashank Manohar of the Vidarbha Cricket Association, besides Kumbhat and Kishore Rungta (Convenor), which met in Mumbai on February 4, had been authorised by BCCI to study its proposals and recommend changes to be placed at the Board’s Special General Body meeting on Feb 23 at Chennai, he said.

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In effect, the five zonal members would represent the senior Selection Committee. These members should have retired five years before becoming a selector and could not serve as a selector, 20 years after retirement, he said.

The committee had decided on these recommendations, keeping in mind the lack of test cricketers, who had played in 15 tests, in most of the centres affiliated to the Board, he added.

As per the new system, the working committee will comprise representatives of nine test Centres, the President, five Vice Presidents, Secretary, Jt Secretary, Treasurer and a member each from the five zones on rotation.

The recommendations are based on the new rotation formula adopted at the Working Committee meet on Jan 22 last, as per which Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Delhi, Kanpur, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Mohali and Bangalore would be nine test centres.

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The Committee has stipulated that those seeking elections should file their nominations (indicating the post contested for) 24 hours before the elections. The respective units should forward the voter name a week before the elections, to the Board Office, he said.

“Each representative from the Board’s affiliated units should be authorised in writing by the respective unit for all General body meetings (including Annual and Special)’.

The Committee has also recommended the term of office of President for three years with getting elected in every AGM as mandatory. Likewise, the Secretary and Treasurer could be in office for five years.

As per existing rules, the President can seek re-election for the second year, while for the third year, it will be under the general body’s discretion. The Secretary and Treasurer can seek re-election for four consecutive years while the fifth would be left to the General body.