Wadekar, Yadav may be replaced

MUMBAI, Sept 19: Chairman Ajit Wadekar and South Zone representative Shivlal Yadav may be replaced in the five-man National selection com...

MUMBAI, Sept 19: Chairman Ajit Wadekar and South Zone representative Shivlal Yadav may be replaced in the five-man National selection committee at the cricket board8217;s annual general body meeting scheduled at Jaipur on September 21 and 22.

8220;As per current indications, Wadekar is definitely out. And so too is Yadav,8221; Board sources told PTI today. 8220;There is a likelihood of National coach Anshuman Gaekwad being the replacement for Wadekar from West zone if he does not keep his current job,8221; the sources indicated.

The latest development that former Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, Mumbai Cricket Association president and seniormost vice-president of the board, is planning to contest for the board president8217;s post 8212; to be decided at the AGM 8212; has also queered the pitch for Wadekar who is considered close to him.

It is a well-known fact that Tamil Nadu Cricket Association president AC Muthiah has the backing of the dominant Jagmohan Dalmiya group in BCCI to take over as president fromincumbent Raj Singh Dungarpur whose term is coming to an end.

In fact, the Hyderabad Cricket Association is backing Joshi for the post. Joshi reportedly has the support of the rival group headed by former BCCI chief IS Bindra and as such a defeat for the former in the presidential election, if at all he decides to contest for the post, would surely upset Wadekar8217;s applecart.

If HCA sides with Joshi once he decides to contest, Shivlal Yadav8217;s term as selector may also come to an end, the sources said and added that Joshi has virtually no chance of becoming the president as per the current equations.

Already the other four selectors are reportedly upset at the selection committee chairman for deciding on selectorial matters without consulting them. They had even registered a written protest with Dungarpur last December when Delhi8217;s Robin Singh Jr was chosen to replace Mumbai paceman Ajit Agarkar when the latter suffered a shin fracture on the eve of the team8217;s departure for New Zealand.

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The recentMithun Manhas episode 8212; the Delhi batsman was picked for India A and unceremoniously replaced by left-arm paceman Ashish Nehra with both board secretary Jaywant Lele and Wadekar blaming the press for gossiping8217; 8212; has also irked the other members of the selection committee, according to board sources.

Mumbai Cricket Association sources fear if Joshi decides to go ahead and contest against Muthiah, then MCA interest would suffer especially in matters concerning allocations of international matches, which are cash milch-cows.

Former India stumper from Karnataka, Syed Kirmani, and Tamil Nadu8217;s former India seamer TA Sekar are considered front-runners to replace Shivlal Yadav as the South Zone selection committee member.

Former India skipper and current A team coach, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who is aspiring to succeed Gaekwad, could also be in the reckoning for the selector8217;s job from South if he is not made the senior coach.