Former selectors hail bringing back five-selector policy

Kiran More

The chances of Jatin Paranjape and Gagan Khoda returning to the fold have brightened up with the Supreme Court hinting at bringing back the five-selector system in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Paranjape and Khoda ceased to be part of the selection committee last year as they did not meet the criteria of being Test cricketers. That criteria too will be relaxed, according to Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanvilkar and DY Chandrachud. The minimum criteria will now be 35 first-class games as compared to being a Test player which was recommended by the Justice Lodha Committee panel.

Former India selectors lauded SC's willingness to revert to a five-man selection committee. "It's a fair call," ex-chief selector Kiran More told mid-day yesterday. "Talented players were missing out. I would also want the selectors to watch matches outside their zones because they would already know players from their zones. It was something that we used to do during my tenure," More added.

Former India coach and selector Anshuman Gaekwad too praised the SC. "I have been advocating a five-member selection panel because our country is so vast and with so many matches being played at the same time. In fact, even with five selectors, it was not possible to cover all games. Having five selectors is logical and practical," said Gaekwad from Baroda.

However, Gaekwad and Surendra Bhave differed with the requirement of playing 35 or more first-class games to be a national selector. "It is important to have a selector with international experience as they have a proper feel of international cricket. There is a vast difference between domestic and international cricket," said Gaekwad.