The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has authorised its office bearers to take a decision on the future of the men’s senior selection committee, leaving the position of chairman Ajit Agarkar uncertain. The decision came after the board’s 95th Annual General Meeting in Mumbai on September 18.
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla confirmed that the office bearers have been given the authority to take decisions concerning the selection committees. However, the AGM did not announce whether Agarkar would continue as chairman or be replaced.
Agarkar has served as chairman of the men’s senior selection committee since July 2023. His current contract is understood to run until October 2026, making his future an immediate issue for the board as it considers the composition of the selection panel.
Questions surrounding Agarkar’s position have grown in recent weeks. He was absent from a BCCI review meeting on September 3 because he was travelling and unable to join the meeting online due to connectivity issues. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had said at the time that there was no discussion about changing the selection committee during that meeting.
Despite the uncertainty, the senior selectors have continued their work. A recent selection meeting to pick India’s squads for the West Indies ODIs, the Irani Cup and India A teams went ahead without any reported disruption.
If the BCCI decides to replace Agarkar, the process would involve inviting applications through a public advertisement and conducting interviews before a new chairman can be appointed. Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has been mentioned in reports as a possible candidate, although no replacement has been formally announced.
The BCCI is also in the process of filling five positions on the junior men’s selection committee. The board had advertised the vacancies on August 24, but the interview process had not been completed by the time of the AGM.
For now, Agarkar remains chairman of the senior selection committee, while the BCCI office bearers have been empowered to decide the committee’s future. Any change will depend on a subsequent decision by the board.
