Former India spinner Ramesh Powar has emerged as a leading contender to replace Ajit Agarkar on the BCCI’s senior men’s selection committee. The Mumbai-born former international cricketer is expected to join a panel that will be headed by Pragyan Ojha, who is currently serving as chairman on an interim basis.
The development follows the completion of the application process for the selection committee position. The deadline for applications closed on October 14, after which the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) interviewed four or five candidates, including former India opener Wasim Jaffer. The interviews reportedly took place on October 15.
According to reports, the CAC has decided to place its confidence in Powar for the role. The former off-spinner represented India in two Test matches and 31 ODIs during his international career.
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Several Candidates Considered for the Position
Powar was among the candidates interviewed for the senior selection committee vacancy. Other contenders reportedly included former Baroda players Connor Williams and Jacob Martin, along with former India pacer Salil Ankola from Mumbai.
Parthiv Patel, who was reportedly considered a strong candidate to lead the new selection committee, was not among those interviewed. Reports suggest that he had not applied for the position.
Although Powar is understood to be the leading candidate, the final appointment remains subject to the BCCI’s formal decision.
VVS Laxman Expected to Attend Selection Meetings
Another significant development concerns the expected involvement of VVS Laxman, head of the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE), in selection committee meetings.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had previously explained Laxman’s presence at a selection meeting in Guwahati earlier this month. Laxman is also understood to have participated in the online meeting held on Friday to select India’s ODI and Test squads for the upcoming New Zealand tour.
Going forward, he is expected to continue attending selection meetings to provide the panel with updates on players’ fitness, injury rehabilitation and availability.
The arrangement could help selectors make better-informed decisions, particularly when assessing players returning from injuries or managing workloads across formats. It would also establish a more consistent link between the selection committee and the CoE.
Powar’s Role Could Influence Junior Selection Panel
Powar had also been interviewed for a position on the junior selection panel and was initially considered for its chairman’s role. However, he was subsequently considered for the senior committee vacancy.
His potential move to the senior panel could open the door for former India fast bowler Dodda Ganesh to become chairman of the junior selection committee.
Several other names are also being discussed for the junior panel, although the appointments have not been formally confirmed.
Arun Sharma of Jammu and Kashmir is reportedly a candidate to represent the North Zone. The 53-year-old played 65 first-class matches and 47 List A games between 1994 and 2009.
For the West Zone, former Gujarat player L. Pawar has been mentioned as a possible candidate. Deep Bora, a former Assam player aged 54, is reportedly among the likely options for the East Zone, while Pankaj Singh could represent the Central Zone.
These names remain subject to confirmation as the BCCI finalises the composition of the junior selection committee.
BCCI Selection Structure Awaits Final Decisions
The possible appointment of Powar would mark an important change in the senior men’s selection setup following Agarkar’s departure. With Ojha currently leading the panel on an interim basis, the appointment process is expected to determine the committee’s permanent leadership and membership.
The anticipated involvement of Laxman in selection meetings could also strengthen coordination between selectors and the Centre of Excellence, particularly on player fitness and rehabilitation matters.
While Powar remains the reported favourite for the senior committee position, official confirmation from the BCCI will be required before the changes can be considered final.