Gaekwad likely to replace Madan Lal

Gaekwad is a tough, no-nonsense man who earned his cricketing spurs by his grit and guts against genuine pace as an opening batsman. Articulate and erudite, Gaekwad commands a lot of respect among the players with skipper Sachin Tendulkar being one of them. Tendulkar, in fact is known to seek Gaekwad’s expertise on technical matters relating to his batting.

CHANGE IN SELECTION COMMITTEE, TOO: Meanwhile, following a meeting of the BCCI, the Board has decided to clamp down on the national selectors wielding multiple powers. The BCCI have taken a stand that henceforth no national selector can be an office-bearer of his state unit. If the plan is implemented, then three of the selectors, Mohinder Pandove (secretary of the Punjab Cricket Association), Ramakant Desai (vice-president, Mumbai Cricket Association) and Shivlal Yadav (joint secretary, Hyderabad Cricket Association) will have no place in the next selection committee.

Even otherwise Yadav would have lost his place as a selector. His functioning as a selector, along with that of East Zone’s Sambaran Banerjee, has been found unacceptable by most BCCI officials. Brijesh Patel is expected to take over from Yadav and Arun Lal may step in for Banerjee. Hemant Kanitkar is likely to replace Desai and Madan Lal may find succour by coming in for Pandove.

Should that happen, then for the first time in five seasons, Test cricketers will be in the majority on the national selection committee. And that might well bring about a change, that Indian cricket needs so desperately.