The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed former Indian cricketers RP Singh, Madan Lal, and Sulakshana Naik in the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) panel, for a one-year tenure on Friday.
Several prominent names such as VVS Laxman, Ajit Agarkar, Nayan Mongia, and Laxman Sivaramakrishnan featured in the race for the coveted position. BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, formerly a member of the CAC, affirmed that the first assignment for the newly formed selection panel would be for the ODIs against South Africa at home in March.
Also, the CAC has to look at immediate replacements for Chairman of Selectors MSK Prasad and Gagan Khoda. Earlier, former Indian opener, Gautam Gambhir, fell out of contention for the post, being a Member of Parliament.
Both RP Singh and Madan Lal were part of the World Cup-winning squads of 1983 and the inaugural 2007 T20 competition. Previously, Kapil Dev and Anshuman Gaekwad were appointed for the position, before they stepped down with allegations of conflict of interest by the COA.
The likes of Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, apart from Ganguly, were a part of the CAC, which appointed former Indian coach Anil Kumble. Later, the trio also had to step down with the conflict of interest clause issued by COA.
“The term of appointment will be for one year,” stated BCCI Secretary Jay Shah. “Mr. Lal represented India in 39 Tests and 67 ODIs and was a member of the victorious Indian team that lifted the World Cup in 1983. He later served as the coach of the national side and was also a member of the senior selection committee,” further read the statement.
“Mr. Singh played for India in 14 Tests, 58 ODIs and 10 T20Is, and was a part of the Indian squad that won the World T20 in South Africa in 2007. Ms. Naik played two Tests, 46 ODIs and 31 T20Is for India in a career spanning 11 years,” the statement concluded.
