The BCCI on Friday invited applications to fill two vacancies in the five-member senior men’s national selection committee, as well as four positions in the women’s panel. The eligibility criteria remained unchanged from previous years. Applicants must have played either a minimum of seven Test matches or 30 first-class games. Alternatively, candidates with experience in at least 10 One Day Internationals (ODIs) or 20 first-class matches will also be considered. “The contracts of selectors are renewed annually. We have not yet identified which selectors will be replaced, but that process will be undertaken soon,” a BCCI official told PTI. The current men’s selection committee, which recently picked the squads for next month’s Asia Cup, is currently headed by former India pacer Ajit Agarkar and comprises SS Das, Subroto Banerjee, Ajay Ratra, and S Sharath.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially invited applications for positions across its national selection committees, including the high-profile Senior Men’s Selection Committee. The announcement confirms that two members of the current men’s panel, led by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, will be replaced, with one of them being South Zone selector S Sharath, who has already completed his four-year term.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the BCCI called for applications to fill two vacancies on the Senior Men’s Selection Committee.
The eligibility criteria for these roles include having played a minimum of seven Test matches, or 30 First-Class matches, or a combination of 10 ODIs and 20 First-Class games. Additionally, applicants must have retired from professional cricket at least five years prior and must not have served on any BCCI cricket committee for a cumulative period of five years.
Earlier media reports suggested that the current selection committee — comprising Ajit Agarkar, SS Das, Subroto Banerjee, Ajay Ratra, and S Sharath — was under scrutiny. It was reported that changes to the panel could be made at the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in September.
According to a report in Hindustan Times, Sharath is likely to be replaced by former India spinner Pragyan Ojha. Sharath, in turn, is expected to take over as the chief of the junior men’s selection committee.
While two members of the senior men’s committee are set to be replaced, Ajit Agarkar is likely to receive an extension on his tenure till 2026.
Agarkar’s Tenure and Achievements
Appointed in July 2023, Agarkar has overseen several key achievements for the national team, including:
• Reaching the final of the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup
• Winning the ICC T20 World Cup in 2024
• Winning the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025
These milestones are believed to be major reasons behind the BCCI’s decision to retain him.
“Under his tenure, the Indian team won titles and saw transitions in the Test and T20 formats too. The BCCI extended his contract till June 2026, and he accepted the offer a few months back,” a BCCI official told The Indian Express.
In addition to the men’s selection roles, the BCCI has also opened four positions in the women’s national selection committee, and one position in the junior men’s cricket selection committee.