Ajit Agarkar‘s contract as chairman of the selection committee will not be renewed by the BCCI, and Zaheer Khan has been named as the front-runner to take over. At that moment, Agarkar is anticipated to step down from the position, ending his time on the board.
According to earlier reports, talks between Zaheer Khan and the BCCI for the head selector role are already in progress. Agarkar’s contract started on July 4, 2023, and he will be eligible for a one-year extension in September after serving in the position for three years.
It is believed that the board chose not to grant him that extension despite his eligibility. After India’s Test series against Sri Lanka concludes, BCCI office bearers are anticipated to meet with Agarkar to formally discuss his future with the board. According to reports, Harbhajan Singh is also eager for the position of chief selector.
Why isn’t Agarkar’s contract extended?
The selection committee and BCCI executives’ ongoing disagreement over how to handle older players, especially captain Rohit Sharma, seems to have played a significant role in the board’s decision.
The Indian Express claims that following the July England series, Sharma was informed by the selectors that his removal from the squad was being discussed. As India prepares for the 2027 ODI World Cup, the BCCI disagreed with that approach and wanted that Sharma’s status be assessed match by match.
The board’s stance was made public by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, who said that Sharma will serve the nation for as long as he is in the grand scheme of things. The disparity between the board and the selectors on a crucial personnel issue was highlighted by that comment. The BCCI has not provided a formal explanation for the decision to not extend Agarkar’s contract.
Who might take over as chief selector after Agarkar?
The name most frequently associated with the chief selection position is Zaheer Khan.
The former pacer for India is being seriously explored, especially if VVS Laxman is appointed to the newly established job of Director of Cricket. Laxman was an early contender to take Agarkar’s job directly, however it is believed that he turned down the top selector position due to its high travel requirements.
It’s also important to remember that Zaheer Khan candidature will acquire more momentum if Laxman takes over as Director of Cricket instead of chair of the selection committee. A further report has also identified Parthiv Patel as a top contender for the job; however, this assertion is at odds with the previous Zaheer Khan reports and is still pending. The succession has not been formally announced by the BCCI.
