Chetan Sharma appointed as the new chairman of selectors for the Indian cricket team

In the 89th Annual General Meeting (AGM) hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the former Indian cricketer Chetan Sharma was appointed as the new chairman of selectors for the Indian cricket team. Abey Kuruvilla and Debashish Mohanty are also named as the new members of the senior selection committee on Thursday afternoon.

The three new members will join Sunil Joshi and Harvinder Singh in the selection committee. The new members were recommended by the Madan Lal-led Cricket Advisory committee. Three positions were vacant after the exit of Jatin Paranjape (west zone), Sarandeep Singh (north) and Devang Gandhi (east).

Sunil Joshi and Harvinder Singh were selected earlier this year in the selection panel. The first assignment of the committee will be to select the Indian squad for the upcoming England tour of India comprising four Test matches, five T20 Internationals and three One Day Internationals.

As many as 11 candidates were shortlisted by the Indian board for this post and were virtually interviewed by the Madan Lal-led Cricket Advisory. Ajit Agarkar, Abey Kuruvilla, and Nayan Mongia had applied from the West Zone while Chetan Sharma, Maninder Singh, Vijay Dahiya, Ajay Ratra and Nikhil Chopra had applied from the North Zone and Shiv Sunder Das, Debashish Mohanty and Ranadeb Bose had applied from the East Zone.

It is obviously a huge honour and a greater responsibility: Abey Kuruvilla

The BCCI confirmed that Sharma – who has more Test caps – will take over as the chief selector. “The committee further recommended Mr Chetan Sharma for the role of Chairman of the senior men’s selection committee based on seniority (total number of Test matches). The CAC will review the candidates after a one-year period and make the recommendations to the BCCI,” the board said in a statement.

Former Indian fast bowler Abey Kuruvilla, who has been appointed as one of the members of the selection committee from the West Zone, said that it is a huge honor and he is looking forward to getting into his new role.

“It is obviously a huge honour and a greater responsibility. I thank the BCCI for bestowing faith in me and I am looking forward to justifying it,” Kuruvilla said as quoted by Sportstar.