Five-member selection committee to stay

In order to give wider scope for cricketers to become national selectors, the Constitution Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided to retain the existing five-member selection committee, but recommended a more liberal qualification system.

Tamil Nadu Cricket Association secretary Ashok Kumbhat said the committee rejected BCCI's proposal to reduce the number of senior selection committee members from five to three, and also suggested that 20 first class matches be the criteria for selection, instead of 15 Test matches, to the committee.

The committee, comprising chairman K Subba Rao, Shashang Manohar of the Vidarbha Cricket Association, convenor Kishore Rungta and Kumbhat, which met in Bombay on February 4, had been authorised by the BCCI to study its proposals and recommend changes, which will have to be placed before the board's special general body meeting on February 23 at Madras.

In effect, Kumbhat informed, that the five zonal members would represent the senior selection committee. These members should have retired five years before becoming a selector, and will not serve as a selector 20 years after retirement.

The committee had decided on these recommendations keeping in mind the lack of Test cricketers, who had played in 15 Tests, in most of the centres affiliated to the board, he added.

Kumbhat said a new system of membership to the Working Committee had been recommended, under which 23 of the 30-member board would be working committee members.

As per the new system, the working committee will comprise representatives of nine Test centres, the president, five vice-presidents, secretary, jt secretary, treasurer and a member each from the five zones, on rotation.

The recommendations are based on the new rotation formula adopted at the Working Committee meet in Delhi on January 22, as per which Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Delhi, Kanpur, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Mohali and Bangalore would be the nine Test centres.

The committee has stipulated that those seeking election should file their nominations (indicating the post contested for) 24 hours before the elections. The respective units should forward the voter's name a week before the elections to to the board office, Kumbhat said.

"Each representative from the board's affiliated units should be authorised in writing by the respective unit for all general body meetings (including annual and special)."

The committee has also recommended the term of office of the president for three years, with getting elected at every AGM mandatory. Likewise, the secretary and treasurer could be in office for five years.

As per existing rules, the president can seek reelection for the second year, while for the third year, it will be under the general body's discretion. The secretary and treasurer can seek reelection for four consecutive years while the fifth would be left to the general body.

Mail Cricket Editor