Shiv Sunder Das, a former Indian team opener and Odisha cricketer, is one of the candidates vying to join the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) new senior men’s selection committee.
Das is currently employed by Punjab as a batting coach. He previously worked as a coach at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and with the Indian women’s team.
Nayan Mongia, Maninder Singh, and Ajay Ratra are the other candidates. Hemang Badani is another genuine contender who has neither confirmed nor denied his participation in the race.
Many of Das’ colleagues believe that he will be appointed as one of the selectors. If appointed, Das will take over for his former Odisha teammate Debasis Mohanty. Mohanty, a former India fast bowler, has completed his five-year term as a selector, having previously served in junior cricket.
The deadline for applications was Monday (November 28), and the BCCI is now expected to form a Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) to conduct interviews before making a decision. The first task for the new selection panel will be to select the Indian team for the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka at home in 2023.
Meanwhile, the outgoing panel will continue to function under the leadership of Chetan Sharma. Its members are currently keeping an eye on the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the domestic 50-overs competition, and the Cooch Behar Trophy knockout stages.
Prasanta Patnaik