Reshuffle throws new cards on the deck

Going into Thursday,Sandeep Patil wasnt even in the reckoning to become the West Zone representative in the national selection committee

Going into Thursday,Sandeep Patil wasnt even in the reckoning to become the West Zone representative in the national selection committee. Abey Kuruvilla,the former Mumbai and India fast bowler,was. Then,from nowhere,Patil leapfrogged straight on to the hottest seat in the house — that of the chairman of national selectors chair.

We wanted a person of sufficient stature to be the new chairman. And I think Sandeep Patil fits the bill, said N Srinivasan,president of the BCCI.

So,thanks to this very unexpected move by the Indian cricket board,one that ensured that the incumbent North Zone selector and leading candidate to take over from Krishnamachari Srikkanth is no longer in the committee,there has been a rather big reshuffle in all zones and parties concerned.

Story continues below this ad

Vikram Rathour,the former Punjab and India opening batsman,replaced Amarnath as North Zone representative while Roger Binny comes in place of Srikkanth from South Zone.

The bigger shock of the day came when former India wicket-keeper Saba Karim was brought in as East Zone representative. And sources have revealed to The Indian Express that Karim was Srinivasans pick after the six state-units from the zone had written to the president,requesting him to nominate someone.

The president picked three names,Saba Karim,Deep Dasgupta and Debang Gandhi. There were those who werent in favour of his choices. But he decided to go with Karim, they said. The only non-Bengal candidate in the fray was former Orissa and India pacer Debasis Mohanty,but he wasnt considered for not having officially announced his retirement from first-class cricket.

Fresh faces

* West Zones Chandrakant Pandit is the chairman of the junior selection committee.

Story continues below this ad

* Anil Kumble to replace Sourav Ganguly as the head of BCCIs technical committee

* The annual pay for the senior selection committee to go from Rs 40 lakh to 60 lakh; members of junior selection committee to receive Rs 40 lakh now,compared to Rs 25 lakh previously

* Ranjib Biswal to be chairman of NCA

* Director of NCA,Patils replacement,to be announced shortly