Former India spinner Ramesh Powar has emerged as the preferred candidate to fill the vacancy on the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) senior men’s selection committee, potentially allowing Pragyan Ojha to continue as Chairman ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
According to a report by Cricbuzz journalist Vijay Tagore, the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) has decided to back Powar following interviews with candidates for the West Zone vacancy created by Ajit Agarkar’s departure.
Powar’s anticipated appointment would leave Ojha at the head of the five-member panel, while former India opener Wasim Jaffer, another prominent candidate, appears unlikely to secure the position.
Why BCCI reportedly prefers Powar over Jaffer
The choice between Powar and Jaffer carries implications beyond filling a vacant seat on the selection committee.
Under the BCCI‘s selection committee rules, the member with the most Test appearances becomes Chairman. Ojha played 24 Tests for India, compared with Jaffer’s 31 and Powar’s two.
Appointing Jaffer would therefore result in a change of leadership, whereas Powar’s inclusion would allow Ojha to remain in charge.
The BCCI considers retaining continuity within the selection setup preferable ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, with Jaffer’s appointment reportedly viewed as an unnecessary risk at this stage.
Ojha, who served alongside Agarkar for approximately two years, is currently leading the committee on an interim basis.
Parthiv Patel reportedly declined to apply over salary concerns
Another notable development in the recruitment process was the absence of former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel, who had previously been considered a leading contender for the Chief Selector position.
According to The Telegraph India, Patel did not submit an application because the annual remuneration of ₹3 crore (approx. US$ 316K) would have represented a substantial reduction in his existing earnings.
Patel currently works with IPL franchise Gujarat Titans in a coaching capacity and also earns income from cricket commentary. Taking up the selection committee role would require him to relinquish those commitments because of the BCCI’s conflict-of-interest restrictions.
His decision highlights the financial trade-offs facing former international cricketers when considering administrative appointments that limit their ability to pursue other professional opportunities.
Ashwin questions financial incentives for BCCI selectors
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has also raised concerns about the remuneration offered to national selectors, arguing that the BCCI should make the Chief Selector position financially comparable to the Indian men’s Head Coach role.
Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Ashwin stated: “Then the pedigree of selectors will suddenly become big. You will get selectors of the pedigree of, you know, maybe a Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble. If you want selectors of that pedigree, then the opportunity to make a lucrative deal is necessary. Because financially, if a player, a former player, takes a selector’s role, he cannot do any other work. He cannot do media work. He cannot talk about players… Apart from that, he cannot go and do coaching anywhere. There are so many roles where conflict of interest comes. So literally a selector has to go to every first-class game, follow IPL, remain invested in cricket all year. If the chairman of selectors’ deal becomes lucrative like the head coach’s, then you will get good pedigree selectors.”
BCCI selection process moves towards final decision
Applications for the senior selection committee vacancy closed on October 14, with the CAC subsequently interviewing several former cricketers, including Jaffer, Powar, Connor Williams, Jacob Martin and Salil Ankola.
Powar, who represented India in two Tests and 31 ODIs, was also considered for a position on the junior selection committee before emerging as the preferred candidate for the senior panel.
The BCCI is also considering changes to the junior selection setup, with former India pacer Dodda Ganesh reportedly among those in contention for its Chairmanship.
Meanwhile, VVS Laxman, Head of the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, is expected to continue attending senior selection meetings to provide information on player fitness and availability.
