2 weeks ago
Zaheer Khan tipped to replace Agarkar as BCCI chief selector
In India, special people pick the cricketers who play for the national team, and a former player named Ajit Agarkar leads them.
It looks like Agarkar might not be the leader of the team pickers for much longer.
The people who run Indian cricket, called the BCCI, are thinking about giving his job to another former player, Zaheer Khan.
They also thought about giving the job to VVS Laxman, but Laxman does not want it because it would mean travelling all the time.
So the BCCI has a new idea: a special job called director of cricket, where Laxman would be the big boss of Indian cricket.
This is happening partly because there was a big argument about a famous player named Rohit Sharma.
The team pickers told Rohit he might not play in the 2027 World Cup, but the BCCI said no decision had been made.
People were upset about the confusion, so the BCCI wants someone like Laxman, whom players trust, to help solve such problems.
Zaheer Khan, who won the 2011 World Cup as a fast bowler, could become the new leader of the team pickers.
Whether Agarkar keeps his job will also depend on how India plays in their big matches in Sri Lanka, which began on Saturday.
Ajit Agarkar's tenure as chairman of the BCCI men's selection committee is expected to end in September, with criticism mounting over his committee's decisions.
Zaheer Khan, the former India pacer and 2011 World Cup winner, is among the frontrunners to replace Agarkar as chief selector.
VVS Laxman is reportedly unwilling to take the selectors' top job because of constant travelling and is instead being offered a BCCI director of cricket role modelled on Rob Key's position at the ECB.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had to do damage control after reports during the England ODI series that selectors told Rohit Sharma India were looking beyond him for the 2027 World Cup.
India's poor Test record, including home series whitewashes against South Africa and New Zealand, has fuelled calls from an influential lobby for a change at the top.
- Who
- Ajit Agarkar, chairman of the BCCI men's selection committee; Zaheer Khan and VVS Laxman, discussed as potential successors; BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia; head coach Gautam Gambhir; and senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
- What
- Uncertainty over Agarkar's future beyond September, with Zaheer Khan emerging as a frontrunner to become chief selector and VVS Laxman reportedly offered a new director of cricket role.
- Where
- The BCCI's base in India; England, where the ODI series and the Lord's match took place; and Sri Lanka, venue of the ongoing two-Test series.
- When
- Agarkar completed three years in the role in June and was given an extension; his tenure is expected to end in September; the BCCI AGM is due next month; the two Tests in Sri Lanka began on Saturday.
- Why
- Sharp criticism of the committee's handling of Rohit Sharma's retirement reports and India's poor Test record, including home whitewashes, prompted calls for a change at the top and moves to bring in Laxman's stature to communicate better with senior players.
Critics of the selection committee
BCCI leadership
Rohit Sharma's future
Critics of the selection committee
The selection committee conveyed to Rohit that India were looking beyond him for the 2027 World Cup and that the Lord's ODI could be his final match.
BCCI leadership
The BCCI, through secretary Devajit Saikia, said no such decision had been taken and that Rohit would remain a regular member and play as long as he fits the team's plans.
Change at the top of selection
Critics of the selection committee
An influential lobby within the BCCI is pitching for Agarkar's ouster, citing his committee's decisions, the Rohit controversy and India's poor Test record, especially at home.
BCCI leadership
Agarkar was given an extension in June and was assumed to stay until the 2027 World Cup, with the board reportedly exploring a director of cricket role for Laxman rather than removing the chairman outright.
Key facts
- Selection committee chairman
- Ajit Agarkar
- Agarkar's tenure
- Completed three years in June; expected to end in September
- Reported replacement
- Zaheer Khan, 2011 World Cup-winning former India pacer
- Proposed role for VVS Laxman
- Director of cricket, modelled on Rob Key's role at the ECB
- Laxman's position
- Unwilling to become chief selector due to constant travelling
- Deciding factor
- Outcome of India's two-Test series in Sri Lanka, which began on Saturday
- Trigger for the controversy
- Rohit Sharma retirement reports during the ODI series in England
- BCCI secretary
- Devajit Saikia, who clarified no decision had been taken on Rohit's future
Sources
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