Srikanth replaces Vengsarkar as the chairman of selectors for four years

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India's first set of paid national selectors: Clause and effects? The BCCI names its first set of paid selectors today. But a couple of the frontrunners are already feeling the heat, reports Anand Vasu. More... Clause & effect? Anand Vasu, Hindustan Times Mumbai, September 27, 2008 First Published: 01:03 IST(27/9/2008) Last Updated: 01:12 IST(27/9/2008) Even before the 79th Annual General Meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) can get under way, speculation is rife over just who will be appointed as India's first set of paid national selectors. With office-bearers for all positions being elected unopposed, from Shashank Manohar, the president, to N Srinivasan, the secretary and MP Pandove, treasurer, the buzz around the Cricket Centre at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai was limited to the senior selection committee. As late as Friday evening, nothing had been set in stone, with the focus shifting from the personalities in question to the norms that will be followed when appointing the selectors. At its last working committee meeting the BCCI decided on four points to be kept in mind: 1) Those who have played for India, or those who have played more than 25 first-class matches, will be considered for appointment. 2) While appointing a senior selector care should be taken to ensure that he should have retired at least 10 years ago. 3) The selector will be paid an annual honorarium of Rs 25 lakh. 4) The selector will not be an office-bearer of the BCCI or any of its affiliated units. The critical clauses are points 2 and 4. At the moment Dilip Vengsarkar is ruled out as he is a vice-president of the Mumbai Cricket Association. Vengsarkar, critically, has maintained silence through the brouhaha, neither confirming interest in continuing nor saying that he has had enough. Vengsarkar will argue that the point disallowing office-bearers of the BCCI from a paid post should be removed, and he can cite the example of Professor Ratnakar Shetty, who draws a salary from the board as its Chief Administrative Officer while holding the post of treasurer at the Mumbai Cricket Association. If these clauses are not removed, and it seems that the incoming office-bearers, Manohar and Srinivasan are reluctant to drop them completely, then more than one candidate who is being touted as a front-runner will be ruled out. Narendra Hirwani (Central) was in the India squad for the Mumbai Test against Australia in 2001 and only announced his retirement as late as February 2, 2006. Surendra Bhave (West), another name doing the rounds, played first-class cricket for Maharashtra as recently as 2001. Krishnamachari Srikkanth (South), who is tipped to take over as chairman, is clear on all counts, as are Raja Venkatraman (East) and Yashpal Sharma (North), the strong candidates for the posts. Late on Friday there was a suggestion that the cooling off period — that the player should have retired 10 years ago — may be cut in half, but this still does not clarify the picture entirely. The BCCI is not rushing into finalising the senior selection committee and that is only understandable given that the team is in a critical phase. India are on the verge of a generational change with several senior cricketers in their mid 30s. If the phase is to be handled sensitively the board will need a strong selection committee with a clear vision. Office-bearers President: Shashank Manohar; Honorary secretary: N Srinivasan, Treasurer: MP Pandove, Joint secretary: Sanjay Jagdale; Vice-presidents: Arun Jaitley (North), Shivlal Yadav (South), Arindam Ganguly (East), Chirayu Amin (West), Lalit Modi (Central).

[Holysmoke]

And listen to this suckers, I have actually spoken to the current chief selector of BCCI over phone for an interview we did here at ICF. :yay:

I met Cheeka, shook his hand, and spoke to him about ICF. :D

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Four-year term for new selection panel Kris Srikkanth, the former India opener, will head India's first-ever paid national selection committee which will be officially appointed during the two-day annual general body meeting starting in Mumbai tomorrow. More... Niranjan Shah appointed IPL vice-chairman India gets first paid selection committee Cricinfo staff September 26, 2008 Kris Srikkanth will head a new selection committee © AFP Kris Srikkanth, the former India opener, will head India's first-ever paid national selection committee which will be officially appointed during the two-day annual general body meeting starting in Mumbai tomorrow. In another significant development, a new post - vice-chairman of the IPL - has been created to accommodate Niranjan Shah, the outgoing secretary of the board. The rest is a formality after senior officials of the ruling group, headed by Sharad Pawar, wrapped up two days of informal meetings during which they decided on the reshuffle. As expected, the selection committee will also comprise Yashpal Sharma (North), Narendra Hirwani (Central), Surendra Bhave (West) and Raja Venkat (East). The selectors will be paid Rs 25 lakh (US$53,625) per year after the BCCI's working committee announced new eligibility norms which automatically rules out the present group headed by Dilip Vengsarkar. Pawar, the BCCI president, makes way for Shashank Manohar, the lawyer from Nagpur, as agreed upon previously and it has become clear that the ruling group's nominees across the board will be elected unanimously. N Srinivasan, the previous treasurer who also heads IPL finalists Chennai Superkings, will take over as secretary from Shah, who has been the public face of the BCCI, in India and abroad, and has represented the board at various ICC meetings. MP Pandove, the joint secretary from Chandigarh, is the new treasurer. "We received only one nomination (each) for the post of Secretary, Joint Secretary, Treasurer and five Vice-Presidents. Their names would be announced only tomorrow at the AGM as per the constitutional procedure," Pawar told reporters in Mumbai. An interesting sidelight of the day's discussions were the hectic meetings that were held over the appointment of the new national selectors. Apparently, there were attempts to get at least one of the new eligibility norms, which bars selectors from holding posts with state associations, amended to let Vengsarkar stay on. "But a majority of the officials who discussed this issue were against such an amendment, as it was a paid job," the sources said. "Besides, Vengsarkar had made it clear that he was not willing to give up his post as vice-president of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). There was no way out." The New Regime The ruling group of the BCCI, headed by Sharad Pawar, has finalised its list of nominees who are expected to be elected unanimously to the Indian board during its AGM on September 27 and 28: Secretary: N Srinivasan; Treasurer: MP Pandove; Joint Secretary: Sanjay Jagdale; Vice-presidents: Arun Jaitley (North), Lalit Modi (Central), Chirayu Amin (West); Shivlal Yadav (South) and Arindam Ganguly (East). According to the new rules, the selectors should also have played for India, or more than 25 first-class matches. The officials, however, have tweaked another rule to accommodate Hirwani, the former India legspinner, who retired from first-class cricket two years ago. The BCCI had earlier specified 10-year gap from the time a cricketer retires for him to be eligible as a national selector but this cut-off now applies to international cricket in the case of those who have played for India. Hirwani last appeared for India in 1996, in a Test against South Africa in Kolkata. In the event, Srikkanth takes over at a crucial time - his new panel will select the team for the Australia home series starting on October 9 - when the Indian team enters a transitional phase with senior players like Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman in the final stretch of their careers. "This is his first stint as a selector and there is a lot of hope and some apprehension," said the sources. "But he has proved himself previously as coach of the India A team, and has been in touch with the game at the highest level as a media figure." Srikkanth will not be able to continue with his media assignments now, though officials have decided that his celebrity brand endorsements "will not be a problem". The board has also finalised the heads of some of its crucial committees, and Lalit Modi, who heads the IPL and Champions League, will head the marketing arm. Rajiv Shukla, who will be replaced as vice-president, will head the finance committee that oversees the board's revenues. Manohar is expected to retain control over the important fixtures committee that decides on match venues and schedules. What this essentially means, the sources said, is that "the negotiations and meetings are over, and what will happen now at the AGM is just a formality". Apart from these appointments, the AGM will also endorse a series of internal reports, including its annual report for the previous season

[Lord]

i think it's high time Arun Lal is recognized as a selector since he knows a thing or two about fc cricket. atleast that way he won't turn up to commentry box to screw us

yes he can then tell other selectors bout kites n 'beautiful' land monitors n stories bout how elephants ('beautiful' again) strolled into his kitchen n he didnt even realise.:hysterical::hysterical::haha:

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Vengsarkar backs Srikkanth Dilip Vengsarkar, who was replaced by Kris Srikkanth as chairman of India's national selection panel, has pledged his "full support" to the new selection committee and will soon have a discussion with his 1983 World Cup team-mate. More... Says he will help in picking team against Australia Vengsarkar backs Srikkanth Ajay S Shankar September 27, 2008 Dilip Vengsarkar: "During the tenure of our selection committee, India has risen from No. 7 to No. 2 in the world rankings, and they are now very close to Australia" © AFP Dilip Vengsarkar, who was replaced by Kris Srikkanth as chairman of India's national selection panel, has pledged his "full support" to the new selection committee. Vengsarkar told Cricinfo he will soon have a discussion with his 1983 World Cup team-mate to pass on information that will help in picking the Indian team for the home Test series against Australia. Vengsarkar looked back "with satisfaction" at his stint as chief selector and defended the controversial ouster of senior players, including Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, during his two-year tenure, saying those decisions have "yielded fruit". "There was nothing personal against any player," Vengsarkar said. "And I am sure they understand that too. I have always done my job with courage and conviction, and nobody can question me on that. As you can see, all those decisions have yielded fruit now." He said that those "tough" decisions, which "created a lot of new options for the Indian team", would not have been possible without the backing of his colleagues, Venkatapathy Raju, Sanjay Jagdale, Ranjib Biswal and Bhupinder Singh, all of whom were replaced today. "It's probably for the first time in Indian cricket that we have had selection committee meetings which saw no arguments, or heated words, or even voting of any kind." The new selection committee is scheduled to meet next week in Mumbai to select the team for the first Test against Australia starting in Bangalore on October 9. "Srikkanth called me after being appointed as the chairman," Vengsarkar said. "He said that he will call again to ask for my inputs to select the Indian team for the Australia Test series. And I have told him that he can call me anytime, day or night, and I will be there." However, Vengsarkar refused to comment on the new eligibility rules for national selectors, especially the one that bars them from holding dual posts, which ruled him out of a third year at the helm. Vengsarkar is currently a vice-president of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). Asked whether he was disappointed at being replaced, Vengsarkar said, "Why should I be? I am happy with whatever I have been able to contribute over the last two years. I will now take time off to relax, spend more time in my cricket academy, and will focus on a role in the media. "I have enough reasons to look back with satisfaction. During the tenure of our selection committee, India has risen from No. 7 to No. 2 in the world rankings, and they are now very close to Australia," he said. "We have created a lot of new options for the Indian team. The India A team is now very strong, and we have watched and promoted youngsters across the board. The results are there for all to see, and I am sure the new selection committee will take it up from here."

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‘School, varsity cricket will get priority’ : M.P. Pandove Barely after a few hours he was elected, Pandove was ready with the list of priorities. More... ‘School, varsity cricket will get priority’ Subhash Rajta , Hindustan Times New Delhi, September 27, 2008 First Published: 23:48 IST(27/9/2008) Last Updated: 23:58 IST(27/9/2008) M.P Pandove has been elected as the treasurer of the BCCI. The cricket administrator, hailing from Punjab, has already served the board in the capacity of a selector and joint secretary and is looking forward to his new role with great enthusiasm. Barely after a few hours he was elected, Pandove was ready with the list of priorities. "It's indeed a challenging role, and I have some concrete plans ready in my mind," he said. And topping the list is his desire to spread the sport to the rural areas and tap the raw talent, which he feels is there in abundance. "We need to spruce up the infrastructure in the rural areas," he said. The revival of school and university cricket is also high on his agenda. "Schools and universities have given us some great cricketers in the past and we surely need to breathe back some life into them," he said. He added that funds for state-run academies and Regional Coaching Centers will get top priority. "Cricket or cricketers will not suffer from want of funds," he said. And given the fine work he did as joint secretary for junior cricket (India won the u-19 World Cup), one can surely look forward to the fulfilment of the objectives he has set. The fact that he has played cricket (he captained Punjab for five years in his almost two decade long career) and his impressive stints as administrator arms him with a distinct advantage.

[Dravid]

About this little part

Meanwhile, as decided at the last AGM, Shashank Manohar, a prominent lawyer who heads the Vidarbha Cricket Association, will succeed Sharad Pawar as BCCI president. The board's ruling group has also finalised its list of office bearers, sources said, and the nominations will be filed between 11 pm and 3 pm on Friday.

To know Shashank Manohar better, one has to go back to 26th November 1995. It was an ODI played between India and New Zealand when the VCA stadium wall collapsed, killing 13 people and injuring over 70. And who were responsible? Shashank Manohar himself, along with his father V.R. Manohar, the bosses of the VCA stadium - allegely these guys had contracted a close relative of theirs for the construction of the wall. It isn't a surprise that a man responsible for cricket's biggest onfield tragedy is the vice-president of the board. http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1995-96/NZ_IN_IND/NZ_IND_ODI5_26NOV1995.html It's no secret that the betting cartel run from Karachi by Dawood Ibrahim's gang has the BCCI backing. So what's the nexus between the Dawood gang and BCCI? Well. the official link is Shashank Manohar. Manohar's family is quite close to the Dawood gang and defends their gang members in most high-profile cases. So the question arises if a man is so close to the betting cartel, should he be the BCCI Vice-president? Is he an honest man? Shashank Manohar claims to be one. His sycophant journalists include a certain Ajay Nayudu and Vinay Nayudu who claim that Shashank Manohar does not take a penny from the BCCI, even pays for his travel expenses. Facts state otherwise. Shashank Manohar took money from the VCA coffers to sponsor a school-boy team's 3 month tour to England. Why? Just because his son was playing in the team. For the record, his son Adwait Manohar is a pathetic cricketer, with a first class average of 15. So, he spent millions from the BCCI earnings to give his own good-for-nothing son. An honest douchebag indeed. http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/30942.html He is also the guy making the most fuss about contracts, pay-for-performance and endorsement caps. Why? Simply because to cover up all his betting cartel links, he needs an honest image. As a cricketer himself, he played just one first-class match - thanks to his father's influence, averaging 9. http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/31301.html

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Mental strength as important as talent - Srikkanth Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth, who was appointed the new chairman of selectors on Saturday, has said his long-term goal was to pick the best team possible for the 2011 World Cup, while his "immediate priority" was to choose the best side for the series against Australia. More... Indian cricket Mental strength as important as talent - Srikkanth Cricinfo staff September 28, 2008 Focus on junior cricket MP Pandove, the new BCCI treasurer, has said "sprucing up the infrastructure in rural areas" was high on his list of priorities. "Schools and universities have given us some great cricketers in the past and we surely need to breathe back some life into them," Pandove was quoted as saying in Hindustan Times. Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth, who was appointed the new chairman of selectors on Saturday, has said his long-term goal was to identify the best team possible for the 2011 World Cup, while his immediate priority was to choose the best side for the series against Australia. The series against Australia gets underway on October 9 in Bangalore and follows a 2-1 defeat in Sri Lanka where several senior members of the Test squad struggled for form. Srikkanth, however, said that the "mental strength" of the seniors would be critical against Australia. "S Badrinath, Rohit Sharma and a few others have the talent but it is not ability alone that makes a player tick at the highest level," Srikkanth told Deccan Chronicle. "Mental strength is critical and cannot be taught, it has to be within, and the likes of Sachin [Tendulkar], Rahul [Dravid] and Anil [Kumble] have shown the way over a good period of time. It will be important to groom the youngsters under them. "An eye for the future is equally important. Hard decisions might have to be taken in the future. The current Test team is one of the best India has ever had and it will not be easy replacing them." The previous selection committee, headed by Dilip Vengsarkar, picked different squads for the Test and ODI formats, a policy which Srikkanth said was "spot on" because it required "different skill sets to excel in each form". "With Twenty20 also coming into the mix it is crucial to identify talent for each form and nurture them," Srikkanth said. "The team has had some good results in the recent past and it's important to keep the good work going. "I thank the BCCI for having faith in me and I am sure this new committee will meet the high expectations," Srikkanth said. "As a selector my accountability is even greater and I will strive hard and ensure the best Indian team takes field in every single game."

[jf1gp_1]

Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth, who was appointed the new chairman of selectors on Saturday, has said his long-term goal was to identify the best team possible for the 2011 World Cup, while his immediate priority was to choose the best side for the series against Australia. The series against Australia gets underway on October 9 in Bangalore and follows a 2-1 defeat in Sri Lanka where several senior members of the Test squad struggled for form. Srikkanth, however, said that the "mental strength" of the seniors would be critical against Australia. "S Badrinath, Rohit Sharma and a few others have the talent but it is not ability alone that makes a player tick at the highest level," Srikkanth told Deccan Chronicle. "Mental strength is critical and cannot be taught, it has to be within, and the likes of Sachin [Tendulkar], Rahul [Dravid] and Anil [Kumble] have shown the way over a good period of time. It will be important to groom the youngsters under them. "An eye for the future is equally important. Hard decisions might have to be taken in the future. The current Test team is one of the best India has ever had and it will not be easy replacing them." The previous selection committee, headed by Dilip Vengsarkar, picked different squads for the Test and ODI formats, a policy which Srikkanth said was "spot on" because it required "different skill sets to excel in each form". "With Twenty20 also coming into the mix it is crucial to identify talent for each form and nurture them," Srikkanth said. "The team has had some good results in the recent past and it's important to keep the good work going. "I thank the BCCI for having faith in me and I am sure this new committee will meet the high expectations," Srikkanth said. "As a selector my accountability is even greater and I will strive hard and ensure the best Indian team takes field in every single game."

Well he has already thrown a few names who are likely to appear against Aussies. Spoke about WC11 and didnt forget 20-20. Also sent a strong signal to test side get ready for some changes. :two_thumbs_up:

[DomainK]

Right said macha.:two_thumbs_up:

[Dravid]

"Mental strength as important ..." Gangs, get ready :D

[jf1gp_1]

Right said macha.:two_thumbs_up:

whats macha ? i thought his nickname was cheeka

[Ram]

The selectors are going to be paid 25 lakhs/annum. That is a sh!t load of money. Honestly, being an Indian selector is the best job in the world, especially now since it isnt a honorary position anymore. Doesnt matter how crappy a cricketer you were, like Kiran More, you still can have a decent shot at being a selector because of all internal politics. And once you've become one, all you've to do is fly business class between different venues of cricket matches, sit in the Air-conditioned pavilion long enough for the press to notice you, quietly slip away in the interval to the comforts of the all expenses paid 5-star accommodation close to the stadium and enjoy a relaxing Chinese massage in the comfort lounge. In the night, you enjoy a couple of glasses wine, while casually chatting about cricket with other BCCI honchos who would have invariably made their way to the hotel. Once the session of binge drinking is over, you trudge up to your room and hit the bed close to midnight. In the morning, once your hangover is totally gone, its time for your '2 minutes of fame', as you appear on live national t.v announcing squads for all sorts of trivial cricket tournaments. If that isnt enough, you have a dozen press people hounding you for sneak previews of squads or insider stories and you can shoo them away like a rock-star. No accountability, no job-pressure, no one to answer to and yet the best of job remuneration and perks! Now, THAT is what you call L-I-F-E. :D

[Dhondy]

An excellent post, Sriram. That's exactly how things work in India. Your other post on terrorism scares in India is a study in irony. Here, on one hand, the "real" India is forging ahead, based on a nebulous and worthless, time wasting game that we are not even good at, in the process generating millions in revenue for a bunch of corrupt but clever neo-politicians whose only concern is to make a quick buck, and, there, looking back over your shoulder is the carcass of the India we all want to forget about- an oasis built on the shifting sands of world economy, built on consumerism borrowed from the west, about to come down like a tonne of bricks because it was constructed with nary a regard for the fabric of the society, with the ugly underbelly of religious discord and seething anger among millions of people who see themselves as disadvantaged because they missed out on the supposed boom. India remains as uninhabitable, as ghastly a place as it's ever been. Ask yourself, are your concerns about her well being not schizophrenic? Here you are, in the safety and prosperity of the US of A, worrying about those you left behind. Admit to yourself- you have neither the courage nor will to go back and face the problems. You'll be a better man for the admission.

[DomainK]

whats macha ? i thought his nickname was cheeka

He uses this word a lot in his conversations. I think macha means friend.

[Predator_05]

whats macha ?

Mosquito.

[riya]

Infact mental strength out plays talent .Cheeka is right ,even if he hadn't had any mental strength during his playing days ,and talent ...err....as long as no one says Akram .:D

[h4te]

About this little part thoughts??

what's new? another scumbag holding a top position in BCCI. oh, brb, match-fixing...............................

[fineleg]

whats macha ? i thought his nickname was cheeka

jf1gp_1 macha ~= saala Amongst his friends, cheeka usually says "Good shot macha..." etc.

[Ram]

An excellent post, Sriram. That's exactly how things work in India. Your other post on terrorism scares in India is a study in irony. Here, on one hand, the "real" India is forging ahead, based on a nebulous and worthless, time wasting game that we are not even good at, in the process generating millions in revenue for a bunch of corrupt but clever neo-politicians whose only concern is to make a quick buck, and, there, looking back over your shoulder is the carcass of the India we all want to forget about- an oasis built on the shifting sands of world economy, built on consumerism borrowed from the west, about to come down like a tonne of bricks because it was constructed with nary a regard for the fabric of the society, with the ugly underbelly of religious discord and seething anger among millions of people who see themselves as disadvantaged because they missed out on the supposed boom. India remains as uninhabitable, as ghastly a place as it's ever been. Ask yourself, are your concerns about her well being not schizophrenic? Here you are, in the safety and prosperity of the US of A, worrying about those you left behind. Admit to yourself- you have neither the courage nor will to go back and face the problems. You'll be a better man for the admission.

Doc, more than it being a result of schizophrenia, I think most of my concerns are due to a sense of helplessness too. You musnt forget that almost all of my family/friends live in these big cities too. So, it isnt a question of me merely 'escaping' to the safety and prosperity of US of A. Its a real concern that I harbor within me, all the time. But, at a personal level, I am just amazed to see how insane humans, apparently the only species of animals with the sixth sense, can become. I am amazed to see how irrational their decision making can be. And thats something that simply blows my mind away. In an era of hyper-computers, robots and artifical intelligence, we have simply forgotten the most basic and first social skill that helped primtive man survive his harsh environs - Co-existence.