BCCI logo. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)
In a recent development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the opening of applications for a key position in the senior men’s national selection committee. While the notice on the board’s website does not explicitly mention the individual to be replaced from the current five-member committee led by Ajit Agarkar, speculations point towards the potential exit of Salil Ankola. This is in line with the BCCI’s inclination to avoid having two selectors from the west zone.
The eligibility criteria outlined in the notice demand that applicants should have a cricketing background, having played a minimum of seven Test matches, 30 first-class games, or 10 ODIs and 20 first-class fixtures. Additionally, candidates must have retired at least five years ago, with a stipulation that no individual who has served on any cricket committee for a cumulative period of five years will be eligible.
Notably, the notice is silent on any age restrictions. The current committee, under the chairmanship of Ajit Agarkar, assumed responsibilities last year after a series of changes triggered by a sting operation that led to the resignation of the then-chairman, Chetan Sharma.
With the deadline for applications set for January 25, all eyes are on potential candidates as the BCCI seeks to reinforce its selection committee. The existing committee includes members like Agarkar, Ankola, Subroto Banerjee, Shiv Sunder Das, and S Sharath, intriguingly lacking representation from the north zone. Cricket enthusiasts await the unfolding of events in the coming days.
Salil Ankola with less than required cricket exposure
Salil Ankola’s stay in cricket didn’t quite mirror the tale of legends like Sachin Tendulkar. Bursting onto the domestic scene in the 1988/89 season for Mumbai, Ankola swiftly found himself on the plane to Pakistan the following year, making his Test debut alongside Tendulkar in November 1989. Despite scalping 2 wickets in that match, Ankola’s Test journey concluded abruptly.
His ODI initiation mirrored the Test arena, with Ankola and Tendulkar receiving their caps together in the 2nd ODI against Pakistan, where Ankola impressed with 2 wickets in just 4 overs. A recall in 1993 saw him don the ODI jersey for 11 matches over the next year, including a spot in the 1996 World Cup squad. Ankola’s World Cup debut against Sri Lanka marked a significant moment for him. Retiring at a youthful 28 in 1998, he took a hiatus from professional cricket for over two decades.