Former India players RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha are leading contenders to join the BCCI senior men’s selection committee chaired by Ajit Agarkar. The Board of Control for Cricket in India had recently invited applications to replace Subroto Banerjee and S Sharath, who stepped down as representatives of the Central and South Zones.
A report from the Indian Express revealed that the BCCI has received only lukewarm responses for the posts. RP Singh, the left-arm pacer from Uttar Pradesh, and Pragyan Ojha, the Hyderabad-based spinner, have emerged as the favourites for the two vacancies.
Other applicants include former pacer Praveen Kumar, Ashish Winston Zaidi of Uttar Pradesh, and Shakti Singh from Himachal Pradesh. But RP Singh and Ojha are understood to be in pole position.
RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha’s careers
RP Singh was part of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup triumph. He featured in 14 Tests, 58 ODIs, and 10 T20Is, taking 40, 69, and 15 wickets respectively. His last appearance in international cricket came in 2011.
Pragyan Ojha claimed 113 wickets in 24 Test matches. He also played 18 ODIs and six T20Is, finishing his India career in 2013 during Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell Test at Wankhede Stadium.
Both players had successful stints in the Indian Premier League with the Deccan Chargers. In the 2009 season, RP Singh won the Purple Cap with 23 wickets, while Ojha backed him with 18 wickets as the team lifted the title under Adam Gilchrist.
Eligibility rules for BCCI selectors
To qualify for the BCCI selection committee, a player must have retired at least five years earlier. They should also meet match experience criteria: a minimum of seven Test matches, or 30 first-class games, or 10 ODIs and 20 first-class matches. Additionally, they must not have served on any BCCI committee during the five-year period.
If appointed, RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha will join Ajit Agarkar’s five-member panel, which plays a vital role in shaping the future of Indian cricket.
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