Sports Desk News Edition 24: Ajit Agarkar is on track to receive the most substantial salary ever given to an Indian chief selector. As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) assures a revised payment arrangement.
This move marks a significant departure from the BCCI‘s previous practice of appointing selectors from different regions for equal representation.
Instead, they focused on Agarkar’s stature as a player and selected him, even though another representative from the West Zone, Salil Ankola, was already present in the committee.
One of the main reasons why notable former cricketers were reluctant to join India’s senior selection committee was reportedly the subpar remuneration offered by the BCCI.
The chairperson of the senior men’s team receives an annual remuneration of ₹1 crore, while the other four members receive ₹90 lakh each.
This amount is significantly lower compared to other high-profile roles related to the men’s team. However, the BCCI has allegedly assured Agarkar that this will be rectified.
Having participated in four World Cups and been a member of India’s victorious T20 World Cup squad in 2007, Agarkar has earned a substantial income from corporate events, commentary assignments, and television appearances as a cricket expert.
He also served as the assistant coach for the IPL franchise Delhi Capitals. Like other prominent figures in Indian cricket, Agarkar has been in high demand.
According to the Indian Express, the final decision regarding Agarkar’s remuneration will be made during the BCCI’s Apex Council meeting on Friday.
In his initial selection committee meeting, Agarkar, along with the other four selectors Subroto Banerjee, S Sharath, Salil Ankola, and SS Das, focused on injecting fresh talent into the Indian T20I squad, looking towards the future.
Notably, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were not included in India’s T20I squad for the five-match series against the West Indies. As the new selection committee aims to prioritize long-term planning.
Unless there are significant changes, Kohli and Sharma will not be considered for T20Is. These cricket stalwarts have not played a T20I since the last year’s World Cup in Australia.
Youngsters such as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma received their maiden call-ups. While Avesh Khan, Sanju Samson, and Ravi Bishnoi made a comeback to the squad.
An interesting selection choice was the inclusion of Axar Patel over Ravindra Jadeja. However, it is believed that Jadeja has been rested, unlike Kohli or Sharma.”