Mumbai, Sep 21: Former wicketkeeper-batsman MSK Prasad was named chairman of selectors, while Ajay Shirke was re-elected Secretary in the BCCI’s 87th Annual General Meeting today during which the Board decided to call for an emergent meet on September 30 to consider implmentation of the Lodha Committee recommendations here.
The AGM was held under the shadow of Lodha Committee recommendations, which have called for sweeping reforms in the Board’s functioning, something that the BCCI has been distinctly opposed to.
“The emergent Special General Meeting of the BCCI will be held on 30th September 2016 at 11 AM at the BCCI headquarters, Mumbai to consider the amendments to the rules and regulations of BCCI as recommended by Hon’ble Justice Lodha Committee,” the Board said in a statement.
In today’s meeting the Board decided to appoint a selection committee in complete defiance of the Lodha Committee guidelines, which had called for a three-member panel instead of five with all members having Test experience.
In fact, the new selection committee has a combined international experience of 13 Tests and 31 ODIs.
Gagan Khoda, who has not played any Test cricket was retained in the committee from the central zone.
Devang Gandhi, Jatin Paranjpe and Sarandeep Singh were the new additions to the selection panel. Of the three, Paranjpe does not have Test experience and has only played ODIs.
Former India seamer Venkatesh Prasad was retained as chairman of the junior selection committee. Incidentally former pacer has far more experience than the senior selection committee chairman.
Among other decisions taken today, Shirke, who was the lone nominee for the Secretary’s position, retained the job, while the audited statement of accounts for the year ending March 31, 2016 and the budget for the year 2016-17 were approved.
“The Working Committee, Standing Committee and Special Committees elected in 2015-16 were continued with vacancies being filled where necessary,” the Board stated.
With the term of its first Ombudsman A P Shah drawing to an end, the “House authorised the President and Hony Secretary to appoint Ombudsman for the year 2016-17”.
Another noteworthy decision was to nominate Board President Anurag Thakur as India’s representative in the ICC and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
Former BCCI and ICC President Sharad Pawar was chosen to be the Board’s alternate director for ICC meetings. Shirke, meanwhile, will represent BCCI in the CEC meeting of the ICC. (PTI)
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