Prasad, Kapoor, Maninder in fray for national selector's job

Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad, off-spinner Ashish Kapoor and left-arm spinner Maninder Singh are some of the prominent names that are doing rounds for the national selectors post (senior and junior) after the Board of Control for Cricket in India completed its interview process on Tuesday.

It is expected that MSK Prasad and Gagan Khoda, the two current selectors, who have just completed one year are expected to be retained in the senior selection committee, and they would be joined by three new members.

The 47-year-old seamer Prasad, who is currently the chairman of the junior selection committee, has the best credentials among the criterias set by the BCCI having played 33 Tests and 161 ODIs. He has served as the bowling coach for India, chief coach of India Under-19s, junior national selector as well as chief coach of various state teams in the past.

The most Test matches played among the CVs received is by Nayan Mongia with 44 Tests to his credit but it is not known whether the Board will consider him fit for the job.

One of the stronger candidates to have emerged from North Zone is former off-spinner Ashish Kapoor, who has been entrusted with job of coaching second string India teams (India A, Blue, Rest of India) in recent times.

Kapoor could be inducted into junior committee if not the senior one.

Known as a potent talent spotter and sound cricketing brain, Kapoor has emerged as a potential candidate, who can be fitted either into senior or junior committee.

Kapoor faces tough fight from former left-arm spinner Maninder Singh, who has played 33 Tests and 59 ODIs. While Maninder has better international credentials than Kapoor, the former Delhi Daredevils manager is believed to have more knowledge of current domestic scenario.

From the East Zone, former Bengal captain Devang Gandhi is in the fray.

It will be interesting to see who all emerge as the potential candidate from West Zone.

Former India wicketkeeper Sameer Dighe is a candidate for either of the committees. One of the big names of Maharashtra cricket, Shantanu Sugwekar, is also in the fray.

The BCCI conducted interviews in Delhi on Monday and in Mumbai on Tuesday to complete the process.

The new selection panels will be named during the 87th annual general meeting of the Board in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Image: Venkatesh Prasad, left, gives tips to Munaf Patel during a training session when he was India's bowling coach.

Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters