Former India cricketer Kirti Azad is likely to replace his 1983 World Cup winning team’s colleague Madan Lal as national selector from North Zone for the coming season.The elections to the national selection panel along with those of office-bearers of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are scheduled to be held at Kolkata on September 19 (Thursday).Kirti Azad, who led Delhi to its last Ranji Trophy victory 11 years ago, is presently a Member of Parliament from Bihar. Madan Lal, who has completed four terms as national selector, was recently appointed coach (professional) of the Delhi junior team for the current season.A couple of other changes are likely to be made in the selection panel. Former India wicketkeeper Kiran More, who on Sunday defeated former BCCI secretary J Y Lele for the post of secretary of Baroda Cricket Association (BCA), is expected to be elected as selector from West Zone, replacing Chandu Borde, who served as chairman of the panel.The name of former India opening batsman Pranoy Roy is being circulated to replace Ashok Malhotra from East Zone.Former India off-spinner Shivlal Yadav (South) and Sanjay Jagdale (Central) are expected to retain their posts for another term.Meanwhile, after last year’s bitter contests for the posts of president (Dalmiya vs Muthaiah) and secretary (Niranjan Shah vs J Y Lele), the only post for which a contest is expected this time will be for that of the secretary. Niranjan Shah, who had defeated Lele by the casting vote last time, is likely to be pitted against S K Nair, a former treasurer and presently the chairman of the finance committee of the BCCI, according to Board sources in Kolkata.
