The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the appointment of Ajit Agarkar as the Chairman of the Senior Men’s Selection Committee. The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising Sulakshana Naik, Ashok Malhotra, and Jatin Paranjape, unanimously recommended Agarkar after extensive evaluations.
The role of chief selector had remained vacant since February, after Chetan Sharma’s resignation following an investigative report by a news channel.
The eligibility criteria specified that the applicant should have played a minimum of seven Tests or 30 First-Class matches or 10 ODIs and 20 First-Class matches.
Agarkar’s illustrious cricket career aligns perfectly with these requirements, having represented India in 26 Tests, 191 ODIs, and four T20Is. Additionally, he boasts an impressive record of 110 first-class, 270 List A, and 62 T20 matches. His legacy includes holding the record for the fastest half-century by an Indian batter in ODI, achieved through a breathtaking 21-ball fifty against Zimbabwe in 2000. Additionally, the record for being the fastest to reach 50 ODI wickets belonged to Agarkar for almost a decade.
In addition to his successful playing career, Agarkar transitioned into significant roles in cricket administration and coaching. After retiring from professional cricket, he took on the responsibility of Chief Selector for the Mumbai Team. He also embraced coaching responsibilities as part of his cricketing journey as a coach for the Delhi Capitals. The committee’s recommendation to appoint Agarkar as the Chairperson of the Men’s Selection Committee was based on his seniority in terms of the total number of Test matches played.
Ajit Agarkar, in his inaugural assignment as Chairman, will undertake the crucial task of finalizing the T20I squad for the upcoming West Indies tour.
Last Updated on July 4, 2023
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