New Delhi, Jun 21 (PTI) The big names in Indian cricket, of late, have opted to stay away when it comes to applying for the national selector’s job.
The ones, who willingly do it, are not taken seriously for lack of stature, say insiders.
Remuneration has a lot to do with that and BCCI is unlikely to get a reputed name from north zone to replace Chetan Sharma unless it significantly raise the pay package.
Sharma lost his job in February following a sting operation, where he was seen discussing confidential information related to the Indian players and team selection.
Former India opener Shiv Sunder Das, who has 23 Tests to his credit, then replaced Sharma as chairman of the panel that also has S Sharath (South), Subroto Banerjee (Central) and Salil Ankola (West).
The chairman of the senior selection panel earns Rs 1 crore annually while the four other members are paid Rs 90 lakh per annum.
The last time the selection panel was headed by reputed former cricketers was when former captains Dilip Vengsarkar (2006-2008) and Krishnamachari Srikkanth (2008-2012) were at the helm.
Vengsarkar’s job was honorary and it was only after Srikkanth took over that BCCI began to pay its selectors.
Mohinder Amarnath also became a part of the panel while Sandeep Patil also headed the committee later.
Amarnath’s position became untenable after developing difference of opinion with then BCCI President N Srinivasan on MS Dhoni’s future as captain after Indian team’s twin debacle in England and Australia.
As of today, there is only one big name eligible for selector’s job from North Zone and that is legendary Virender Sehwag.
The former opener though will think about the job only if BCCI approaches him with a decent pay package.
“During CoA’s time, Viru was asked to apply for head coach’s job and then it went to Anil Kumble. It is unlikely he will apply himself and also the pay package isn’t something that will be financially viable for someone of his stature,” a BCCI official, privy to developments told
Source: PTI News
