India T20 WC Exit: ICC T20 World Cup 2022: Time is up for BCCI Selection Committee chairman Chetan Sharma. After yet another T20 World Cup debacle, the chief selector is all set to lose his job. India suffered yet another 10-wicket humiliation, this time against England to make a semifinal exit. With that, BCCI has begun preparation for next phase keeping T20 WC 2024 in mind. When BCCI appoints the new Cricket Advisory Committee, the axe will fall on Chetan Sharma. The entire selection committee will undergo an overhaul with at least one new selector coming in with some T20 experience. Follow India Cricket LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
“There will be some tough calls. With so many injuries, one cannot entirely blame the selection committee. But yes, they are part of the system and answerable too. Once the new CAC comes in, there will be changes,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
India T20 WC Exit: Time’s UP for Chetan Sharma, Chief Selector set to lose his JOB after Adelaide mauling, CAC to appoint NEW Selection Committee, Follow LIVE Updates
India T20 WC Exit: Where did selectors go wrong?
- Inconsistency in selection: The likes of Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson were groomed but both got the snub when it came to Australia. Harshal Patel was elevated to T20s for WC. But didn’t play a single match.
- Both Mohammad Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin were out of the reckoning for T20s. But both suddenly came back into the mix for WC.
- Shami returned to T20s after a year. Ashwin was suddenly snubbed following NZ series and returned for Asia Cup after 8 months.
- No Plan B: Injuries are part and parcel of players. But it is the selectors’ duty to prepare backups in advance. Shami and Umesh Yadav’s selections were desperate moves with Jasprit Bumrah ruled out.
- No reinforcements: Despite repeated failures, KL Rahul not only kept his place in the team, he was elevated to the vice-captaincy role. Barring few knocks, he failed to follow the team management’s new aggressive powerplay template, he kept getting chance. The likes of Sanju Samson missed out.
- No front-line pacer: When every team brought in a fast bowler, India relied on Harshal Patel. Mohammad Shami was only a last-minute addition as Bumrah failed to make it.
- India had more than a year after breakout performance in IPL 2021 to groom Umran Malik. But he was let go after bowling just 54 deliveries in international cricket.
- Avesh Khan despite his genuine pace got the boot for Harshal Patel, who was similarly expensive.
India T20 WC Exit: Time’s UP for Chetan Sharma, Chief Selector set to lose his JOB after Adelaide mauling, CAC to appoint NEW Selection Committee, Follow LIVE Updates
However, BCCI must take the blame too. The Selection Committee operated with four members for two crucial T20 tournaments in Asia Cup and WC. The post is vacant for a year but the 5th selector hasn’t yet come in after Abey Kuruvilla quit. Soon, it will be down to 3 as Debashish Mohanty is set to complete his term. Selectors with Test playing experience have kept getting the nod ahead of players who have only played T20s.
But with three ICC tournaments lined up in the next three years, the BCCI is looking to make a course correction. The new office bearers have now recognised that T20 speciality is a must when picking a player in T20 team. Hence, when the new CAC appoints new selection committee, at least one selector with experience in playing T20 cricket or coaching in IPL will be given preference.
Hence, players with only Test caps will not be the first choice anymore, going away from Lodha recommendation.
BCCI Selection Committee: What changes could new CAC bring in?
- The new CAC will review the existing eligibility criteria set for selectors
- The chief selector with most Test caps will continue
- A former player who has only played T20s or ODIs for India could also be eligible
- IPL coaching experience will be an added advantage
- Priority will be to take the selection committee to up to speed, appointing the 5th selector.
- The committee currently has only 4 members.
As per Lodha Committee recommendations, former players with Test caps can be eligible. But BCCI is set to follow its previous route. Even a player without any Test playing experience but T20 playing experience will be eligible. But the incoming Cricket Advisory Committee will restructure the existing selection committee eligibility criteria.
Current Selection Committee:
- Chetan Sharma (Test: 23, ODI: 65, FC: 121)
- Sunil Joshi (Test: 15, ODI: 69, FC: 160)
- Debasish Mohanty (Test: 2, ODI: 45, FC: 117)
- Harvinder Singh (Test: 3, ODI: 16, FC: 109)
“Time has changed and it is important to recognise that T20 will dominate world cricket. So, you cannot have a former player in the selection panel without any experience in T20s, playing or coaching. When the new CAC is appointed, at least one selector in the committee will focus on T20s as we have a T20 WC every two years,” a top BCCI official told InsideSport.
India T20 WC Exit: Time’s UP for Chetan Sharma, Chief Selector set to lose his JOB after Adelaide mauling, CAC to appoint NEW Selection Committee, Follow LIVE Updates
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