Pragyan Ojha, RP Singh join Ajit Agarkar, the male commander of India as new selectors

Former Indian cricketers Pragyan Ojha and Rudra Pratap Singh have been appointed as new men’s senior selectors. The decision was taken in the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Sunday. Earlier this month, the BCCI had invited applications for two positions in the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee.

Ojha, RP Singh become national selectors

Having played 24 Tests, 8 ODIs and 6 T20Is in his career, Ojha had applied for the role from the South Zone. Meanwhile, RP Singh – who has played14 Tests, 58 ODIs and 10 T20Is – had applied for the role of a national selector from the Central Zone. The former Indian cricketers will replace S Sharath and Subroto Banerjee.

Ajit Agarkar, who was named the chairman of the men’s senior selection committee in 2023, is all set to stay on till 2026 after he received a contract extension from the BCCI earlier this year. Other former cricketers who had applied for the roles but weren’t considered after the interview rounds include Praveen Kumar, Amay Khurasiya, Ashish Winston Zaidi, and Shakti Singh.

BCCI Selection Committee

• Chairman: Ajit Agarkar (West Zone)
• Member: Shiv Sundar Das (East Zone)
• Member: RP Singh (Central Zone)
• Member: Ajay Ratra (North Zone)
• Member: Pragyan Ojha (South Zone)

What was the elibility criteria?

According to BCCI’s eligibility criteria, an applicant must have played a minimum of seven Tests, or 30 First-Class matches, or 10 ODIs and 20 First-Class games. Candidates should have retired from professional cricket at least five years earlier and must not have served on any BCCI cricket committee for a cumulative period of more than five years.