BCCI imposes age cap for national selectors

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has set in place a strict qualification criteria for the appointment of national selectors, which requires the applicants to have international cricket experience. The board, on Saturday (September 10), also put in place an age cap of 60 years, effectively ruling out the likes of former stars Mohinder Amarnath and Dilip Vengsarkar.

BCCI has given interested candidates time until September 14, to apply for the posts. Those willing to declare their candidature for the positions of senior, junior and women national selectors will need to fulfil several important criteria.

To be considered for senior national selection committee, a BCCI release stated, "He or She should have represented the Indian team either in a Test match or a One-Day International or more than 50 first class matches in India, in a team selected by the BCCI."

Candidates should have played "more than 50 first-class matches in India to be considered for a position" in the junior national selection committee. Tightening the mode of appointing selectors, the BCCI said, "Candidates should be under the age of 60 and be willing to undergo a medical examination, if selected".

The move to impose stricter selectioncriteriawith a possible interview process to shortlist the panel of selectors is a part of the reforms being put in byBCCI in a bid to ensure greater transparency in itsadministrationof cricket in the country.

Elaborating on the job prerequisites, the board added, "He or she should have retired on record, from all forms of cricket at least five years prior to this date of application."

Aiming to steer clear of the conflict of interest issue that has dogged the board in recent past, BCCI clarified that the applicant should not be part of any IPL team management or part of any other league in the world. "Candidates, if selected should not be associated directly or indirectly with any cricket coaching academy or another such organisation associated with the game. He or she cannot in any form be engaged with any media house publication syndicated columns once shortlisted for this position."