Selectors want say in playing XI decision while on tour

The selectors are under flak following India’s whitewash in Tests against England and Australia and they haven’t been on the same page as skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni when it comes to picking teams recently.

The selectors have also conveyed to Jagdale that Dhoni has his way when it comes to picking the playing XI. “The selectors want to be part of the meeting when the final XI is picked so they are clear as to why a certain player is picked or is on the bench. The BCCI is studying the request of the selectors but a call has not been made,” a top India cricket board official said.

This is not the first time that a current national selector has wanted to be part of the team management’s selection meeting on tour. Central Zone selector Narendra Hirwani,who was touring with India A squad,two years ago in England wanted to be part of team meeting.

But tour manager Sanjay Dixit vetoed the idea. Former chairmen of the selection committee — Dilip Vengsarkar and Kiran More — have both been part of team meetings on tour.

“You don’t want to argue endlessly about the composition of the team that will take the field during meetings on tour but you can get an idea behind the thinking of selecting the playing XI,” More said talking about the logic of a national selector being taken into confidence. Vengsarkar is of the opinion that if a selector is not part decision making process on tour then it makes no sense for a selectors to be at games.

“If a selector’s opinion is not entertained by the skipper or the coach while on tour then he is better off watching the game on television,” Vengsarkar said.