Image Credit To Original Source
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday appointed Pragyan Ojha as the chairman of the men’s selection committee. Following the departure of Ajit Agarkar, former India all-rounder Ramesh Powar has been inducted as a member of the five-member panel.
The announcement brings clarity to the leadership of the selection committee. Ojha will head the panel based on seniority, determined by his Test cricket experience. The committee also includes Shiv Sundar Das, R.P. Singh, and Ajay Ratra.
Powar’s appointment comes after a selection process conducted by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape. The duo reviewed applications and interviewed candidates at the BCCI headquarters before unanimously recommending Powar for the vacant position.
Pragyan Ojha to Lead Selection Committee:
Ojha’s appointment comes after speculation over who would succeed Ajit Agarkar as the head of the selection panel. According to an India Today report, former India opener Wasim Jaffer had also applied for the vacant selector’s position.
While Jaffer represented India in 31 Test matches, Ojha played 24 Tests. Since the BCCI had previously stated that seniority for the chairman’s role would be determined based on Test cricket experience, the selection process had generated considerable interest. However, the board’s latest announcement has officially confirmed Ojha as the chairman of the committee.
The former left-arm spinner represented India in 24 Tests, 18 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and six T20 Internationals (T20Is). He claimed 113 wickets in Test cricket and was a regular member of India’s Test squad during his playing career. With this appointment, Ojha will now lead the committee responsible for selecting players for the Indian men’s national team across all formats.
Ramesh Powar Returns to an Administrative Role:
Ramesh Powar represented India in two Test matches and 31 ODIs before moving into coaching. He has worked with the India women’s team, Mumbai, and Gujarat, and has also served as a bowling coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
During his tenure as head coach of the India women’s team, the side won the Asia Cup and secured a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games. His extensive coaching experience, combined with his background as a former India international, is expected to bring valuable insight and expertise to the selection committee.
Powar was appointed following interviews conducted by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), which unanimously recommended him for the role. With his inclusion, the five-member selection committee is now complete and will be responsible for selecting India’s men’s squads across all formats of international cricket.
