The BCCI is moving towards finalising its new five-member junior selection committee, with Praveen Kumar and Ramesh Powar among a group of prominent former cricketers competing for places on the panel, according to a report by Sportstar.
The Board is in the final stages of shortlisting candidates and is expected to have the new committee in place during the first week of October. Devendra Bundela, Saurasish Lahiri, Ashish Winston Zaidi, Sudeep Tyagi and Nikhil Doru are also among the names to have applied.
Praveen Kumar puts his name forward
Kumar’s candidacy brings both international playing experience and previous involvement in selection to the process. The former India pacer represented the country in six Tests, 68 ODIs and 10 T20Is before retiring from all forms of cricket in 2018, and has previously worked as a selector for the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA).
Former India pacer Praveen Kumar told The Indian Express: “Yes, I have applied for the junior selection committee. I have retired and I wanted to contribute to cricket. I have done coaching before and I was a selector in UPCA earlier, so I thought of applying.”
The 39-year-old was India’s leading wicket-taker during the 2011 Test tour of England, claiming 15 wickets including figures of 5/106 at Lord’s. He also took 10 wickets in four matches during India’s victorious 2008 CB Series campaign in Australia.
Kumar faces competition within Central Zone from fellow former pacers Zaidi and Tyagi. Tyagi played four ODIs and one T20I for India and was a Hyderabad selector last season, while Zaidi represented Uttar Pradesh during his domestic career.
Powar among contenders as BCCI weighs experience
Powar is among the applicants from West Zone, alongside former Mumbai batter Manoj Joglekar. The former India off-spinner played two Tests and 31 ODIs and has subsequently held a series of coaching positions.
There had previously been speculation that Powar could take charge of the new junior panel. With Kumar also among the candidates, experience is expected to be a consideration in determining the leadership of the committee, with the BCCI’s selection protocol generally favouring the candidate with more Test appearances for the Chairman’s position.
Powar has also recently worked with Australia’s Under-19 team in a short-term role, assisting its spinners during the Youth ODI series against India.
New panel to replace S Sharath-led committee
The incoming selectors will succeed the committee headed by S Sharath, whose tenure formally concluded on September 17. The outgoing panel remained in place for an additional week to complete pending assignments, including selecting India’s Under-23 squad for the C.K. Nayudu Trophy and identifying a provisional Asia Cup squad.
The transition comes shortly before another stage of the domestic junior calendar, with the Vinoo Mankad Trophy scheduled to begin on October 8. Unlike appointments to the senior selection committee, the junior panel can be chosen directly by BCCI office-bearers without interviews conducted by the Cricket Advisory Committee.
Junior selectors to oversee India’s talent pathway
The five incoming selectors will be responsible for identifying and selecting players for age-group teams up to Under-22 level, covering coaching camps and junior fixtures against domestic and international opposition at home and overseas.
Their remit also includes scouting players, developing the talent pool and bench strength, and overseeing BCCI junior tournaments and overseas tours. The committee additionally has responsibilities around the administration of junior competitions and promoting ethical standards among developing cricketers, including awareness around drugs, betting and match-fixing.
With the shortlisting process approaching its conclusion and the junior season continuing, the BCCI is expected to complete the new panel in the first week of October.
