BCCI discards zonal method, to pick selectors through personal interviews

New Delhi: Discarding the previously used zonal method, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to pick the national selectors for the senior, junior and women's selection panels through an interview process.

The deadline for applications is till Wednesday despite the BCCI releasing the advertisement only on September 10, ESPNcricinfo reported.

The development comes in the wake of the Lodha Committee's decision to abandon the traditional zonal method of appointing national selectors, which involves nominations received from the five different zones.

While inviting applications for the selection committee, the BCCI said that only former Indian Test players, who had been retired from the game for at least 5 years, would be applicable to be appointed to the men's and women's selection committees.

The BCCI's criteria, however, added that, "he/she should have represented the Indian team either in a Test match or a one-day international or more than 50 first-class matches in India, in a team selected by the BCCI to be considered for the Senior National selection Committee."

There was no provision for first class cricketers in the Lodha Committee's recommendations in any senior selection committees.

With the BCCI's declaration, they had defied the Lodha panel's recommendations as far as the formation of selection committees is concerned.

Meanwhile, in case of junior panel, the applicant must have played more than 50 first-class matches in India in contrast to the Lodha Committee's recommendation of "a minimum of 25 first-class games."

Setting an age cap of 60 years for the eligible candidates, the BCCI also said that an applicant cannot be a former national selector, be associated with an IPL franchise in any position, run a cricket academy, or have a criminal record.

The Anurag Thakur-led board, however, did not make it clear whether it would adhere to the Lodha Committee's recommendation of restricting the selection committees to three members as opposed to five.