Indian national cricket selectors

Indian National Cricket Selectors is a committee of cricket administrators (usually ex-cricket players) whose responsibility is the selection of cricket team to represent India at various levels. The term for the selectors was increased from 1 year to 2 years in 2006 [Cite web| accessdate = 2007-03-14| publisher = Rediff.com| title=2 Year term for Selectors| url=http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2006/jun/01selectors.htm] with a provision for an additional year based on performance.

Technically, there are 2 groups of selectors:

* All India Senior Selection Committee: Responsibilities includes selection of teams for:
** International matches - both Test Matches and ODI Matches
** India 'A' teams - both for home and away series
** President's XI / BCCI XI to play visiting international teams

* All India Junior Selection Committee: Responsibilities include selection of teams for international tournaments involving:
** Under-19 Cricket
** Under-17 Cricket
** Under-15 Cricket

Committee composition

The selection committee consists of 5 members and a convenor. Only the 5 members of the selection committee have voting rights on team selection. The convenor is the Secretary, BCCI for the senior selection team and Jr. Secretary for junior selection team.

The 5 members in the selection committee are selected the 5 cricket zones - North Zone, Central Zone, West Zone, East Zone, South Zone. One of the 5 members is selected by BCCI as the Chairman of the selection committee.

The Captain and Coach are invited to the selection committee meetings to present their opinions on team players though the captain and coach don't have voting rights in team selection.

Issues with Selection Committee composition

* The biggest criticism of the 5 member selection committee is that of the interest served by the committee members. The popular opinion is that the selectors constantly engage in promoting the interests of players from their zone or vote on players based on cross-promotion from other zones instead of selecting the best available team.Cite web| accessdate = 2007-03-14| publisher = Cricinfo.com| title=Interview with John Wright on his book| url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/columns/content/story/255081.html] BCCI tried addressing the issue as part of its Shashank Manohar led constitution review committee [cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060928/asp/sports/story_6803878.asp | title=2006 BCCI Appointments | publisher=The Telegraph |date=2006-09-28 | accessdate=2007-05-04] in 2006. However, a lack of consensus and concerns by zonal heads scuttled any efforts to reduce the 5 member committee to a 3 or 4 national committee.
** In August 1998, the Rules Revision Committee comprising of Jagmohan Dalmiya (Special Invitee), Raj Singh Dungarpur, Lele, Jyoti Bajpai, S K Nair, N Subba Rao, Ratnakar Shetty, Bibhuti Das and Ranbir Singh recommended comprehensive reconstitution of the national selection committeeCite web| date=1998-08-18 | accessdate = 2007-03-14| publisher = Rediff| title=Come September...| url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/1998/aug/18b.htm] . The Selection committee would consists of 3 members who have played at least 20 Tests or 50 Ranji Trophy each. In addition, the selectors would be paid instead of asking them to take an honorary position and would be aided by a 5 member talent spotter team - one from each Zone. Unfortunately the recommendations of this committee report was never implemented and the reasons remain unknown.
** After the 2007 Cricket World Cup debacle where India was eliminated in the first round, BCCI has scapped the zonal selection system and is looking to replace the 5 man selection committee.cite web | url=http://www.rediff.com/wc2007/2007/apr/07dravid.htm|title=Dravid retained as India captain |date=2007-04-07 |accessdate=2007-05-04|publisher=Rediff] The details of the new structure is still awaited. BCCI's decision has been welcomed by several players including former Chairman of selection committee, Kiran More. [cite web | url=http://specials.rediff.com/wc2007/2007/apr/08more.htm|title=Kiran More - Interview |date=2007-04-08 |accessdate=2007-05-04|publisher=Rediff]

* John Wright, Indian National Coach (2000–2005) in his book John Wright's "Indian Summers" championed the need to have professionally paid selectors rather than have people play the role on an honorary basis. John Wright felt that professionally paid selectors could be held accountable for their actions. In the book, John Wright disclosed that he felt frustrated at some of the decisions made by the selectors at various points during his coaching career. [Cite web| accessdate = 2007-03-15| publisher = Cricinfo.com| title=John Wright & his thoughts on Indian Cricket Team Selection System| url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/254901.html]
** After the "2007 Cricket World Cup" debacle where India was eliminated in the first round, BCCI has decided to scrap the honorary system for selectors and have paid selectors.

* Cricket Coaches and ex-cricketers have debated the merits and de-merits of the coach having a vote in the selection committee. Kapil Dev [Cite web| accessdate = 2007-03-15| publisher = Cricinfo.com| title=Kapil Dev selected as India's National Coach| url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/83972.html] wanted to have voting rights when he took over as national coach but BCCI never gave any coach voting rights in the selection process.

election committee

References