Ajit Agarkar set to step down as chief selector, BCCI begins hunt for successor

The BCCI is set to begin its search for a new chairman of the senior men’s selection committee after Ajit Agarkar informed the board’s top brass that he does not intend to continue in the high-profile position beyond the expiry of his contract on October 4.

Agarkar’s decision emerged after the BCCI’s affiliated units, at the board’s 95th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mumbai on Friday, authorised the office-bearers to take decisions concerning the selection committees. While the BCCI did not immediately announce Agarkar’s successor, his communication to the board clears the way for a change at the top of the senior selection panel.

Agarkar set to exit

Agarkar, who has headed the senior men’s selection committee since 2023, had remained at the centre of attention ahead of the AGM because his tenure was approaching its end.

“The office-bearers have been authorised to take decisions on the matters concerning the selection committees,” a senior BCCI official said after the meeting.

Sources close to Agarkar, however, said the former India pacer had already informed the board that he did not want to continue in the role, meaning the BCCI will now have to identify a new chairman to lead the panel.

Agarkar’s tenure has covered a significant period for Indian cricket, spanning major ICC tournaments and changes across formats. His impending departure means the senior selection structure will undergo another transition as India moves into its next international cycle.

The AGM was attended by representatives of the BCCI’s affiliated state units, including former India captain Sourav Ganguly representing the Cricket Association of Bengal and former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad representing the Karnataka State Cricket Association.

Junior panel overhaul

The board is simultaneously looking to fill all five positions on the junior selection committee as the tenures of the existing selectors are nearing completion.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the board had received a large number of applications and hoped to complete the appointments within the next 10 to 15 days.

“We have received a very large number of applicants and once the shortlisting is completed, then we will give it to our cricket committee,” Saikia said.

“They will be the competent authority to select for the junior selection committee, so that process is going on, and we are trying to complete it within the next 10-15 days time because all the five selectors, their tenure is going to be over very soon,” he added.

Fielding coach under review

The BCCI also clarified that Subhadeep Ghosh’s appointment as the Indian team’s fielding coach is currently a short-term arrangement.

Ghosh, who is associated with the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, will be assessed before a decision is taken on whether to retain him with the senior national team.

“We will be assessing his performance and as per the opinion given by the concerned persons in the team management, we will take a decision to continue his engagement as a fielding coach of the Indian team. That final decision is yet to be taken,” Saikia said.

Mumbai seeks big games

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) urged the BCCI to consider the Wankhede Stadium for more prominent fixtures.

MCA secretary Unmesh Khanvilkar said the association had made its case to the board as Mumbai seeks a larger share of marquee international matches.

Wankhede has not hosted a Test for nearly two years, with its previous five-day international being India’s match against New Zealand in late 2024. The stadium, however, is set to stage cricket again with fixtures including the inaugural Women’s Champions League early next year and matches in the Women’s Premier League.

No Ranchi Test decision

Jharkhand State Cricket Association secretary and former India cricketer Saurabh Tiwary, meanwhile, dismissed suggestions that a decision had been taken to shift an India-Australia Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test away from Ranchi.

“This is news to me. If someone has to write to the BCCI (on this), that has to be me. I haven’t written anything. Nothing at all has been discussed at the AGM,” Tiwary said.

His comments indicated that there had been no discussion at the AGM about moving the Test from Ranchi.

Centenary plans begin

The General Body also initiated preparations for the BCCI’s centenary celebrations in 2028.

According to the board, the centenary will be marked through a year-long programme beginning in December 2027 and continuing through 2028.

The General Body also unanimously decided that the 20th edition of the Indian Premier League in 2027 would be celebrated “in a grand way”.

Arun Dhumal and Khairul Jamal “Mamon” Majumdar were once again elected unopposed to the IPL Governing Council.

Umpire payments raised

Among other decisions, the BCCI approved its annual budget for 2026-27 and appointed auditors for the financial year. It also cleared a revised payment structure and reclassification of grades for umpires and match referees.

Under the revised structure, umpires will receive ₹60,000, ₹50,000, ₹40,000 and ₹35,000 per day across Grades A, B, C and D, respectively. At present, umpires in the top two grades receive ₹40,000 and ₹30,000 per day for senior domestic tournaments, while the payment for T20 matches is ₹20,000.

Following multiple instances of age fraud involving state units, the board also updated and adopted its Age Verification Policy. A new Internal Committee was constituted under the BCCI’s Prevention of Sexual Harassment Policy.

The proposal to grant associate membership to Cricket Andaman and Nicobar was deferred, with Saikia saying the matter involved legal issues that needed to be addressed before a decision could be taken.