Ex-cricketers could choose selection panel in the future

What’s the story?

In a bid to reduce the involvement of BCCI’s office bearers in matters relating to team selection, a group of ex-cricketers, similar to the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), could be burdened with the onus of choosing the BCCI selection committee.

The Committee of Administrators (CoA), in a meeting held recently, put forward their suggestion to the Supreme Court. "The selectors should be appointed for two years and the appointment of selectors and coach should be free from any political influence," said a statement on the BCCI website.

In case you didn’t know…

A three-member panel of Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly was chosen by the CoA to select the head coach of the Indian team, both in 2016 and 2017. Last year, their former teammate Anil Kumble became the head coach of the Indian side, but after a public fallout with Virat Kohli, was replaced by Ravi Shastri.

The heart of the matter

An official with the BCCI, while speaking to The Times of India, hinted at political influence hindering the choice of selectors in the past, but also believed that the CAC would do a good job if given the opportunity.

“Accordingly, instead of directly appointing selectors, there should be a provision whereby the general body appoints a professional committee comprising reputed former cricketers [like the cricket advisory committee] and this professional committee can, in turn, appoint selectors as well as the coach," a source close to the BCCI said.

What’s next?

It will be interesting to see if the Supreme Court takes into account the CoA’s suggestions, which could also see the tenure of future selectors being reduced to two years.

Author’s take

The suggestion to include ex-cricketers for choosing the selection committee bodes well for cricket in the country, as the exclusion of political influence can ensure a fair and well-thought-out selection. Just like the CAC (consisting of three legends of Indian cricket who are well-known for their integrity and fair judgment of things), a panel of ex-cricketers, if given a chance, would ensure that selection takes place without the pangs of politics eating its way into the sanctity of proceedings.