Dilip Vengsarkar

Calcutta: Some affiliated units of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have requested outgoing president Sharad Pawar to have the norms for selectors — decided upon by the working committee last month — “modified,” thereby allowing an office-bearer to become eligible.

According to The Telegraph’s sources, a “representation” was formally made in Mumbai on Thursday morning. Pawar, one learns, got senior colleagues to brief him on the constitution (actually the Memorandum and Rules and Regulations) and will probably convey his decision on Friday.

The move, incidentally, has been initiated by the Andhra Cricket Association’s rather ambitious secretary, Chamundeswarnath.

Current (senior) chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar, a Mumbai Cricket Association vice-president, could gain if an honorary office-bearer is allowed to become a paid selector.

However, while Vengsarkar is on excellent terms with Pawar, the same can hardly be said of the former captain’s relationship with president-designate Shashank Manohar and the next secretary, N.Srinivasan.

So...

As has been decided, all the selectors (on the senior, junior and women’s committees) will be paid from the 2008-09 season.

It’s understood that quite a few of the most influential within the BCCI feel the working committee’s decision is binding (on the issue of the norms, at least). Yet, others are of the opinion that the general body is supreme.

The latter group believes that the working committee has only made a “recommendation.” That contention couldn’t be confirmed, though.

In any case, the norms will have to be modified (whatever the route taken) if the Establishment’s choice No.1 from Central, Narendra Hirwani, is to become a selector.

One of the norms, after all, states that the selector-to-be should have retired at least 10 years ago. Hirwani’s last India appearance was in late 1996, but he quit cricket as recently as 2005-06.

“The minutes of that working committee meeting will be approved at the AGM and, if there has been a mistake in representing what happened, then that will have to be rectified,” remarked somebody close to the men who matter.

A modification/clarification may then be forthcoming during the AGM, which is scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, in Mumbai. All major decisions are likely to be taken on the opening day itself, with perhaps nothing at all left for Sunday.

It’s still somewhat fluid, but as things are, it’s gathered that the following (listed by way of seniority) were being “most strongly considered” for the senior selection committee: Yashpal Sharma and Sanjeev Sharma, with the former favoured more (North), Krishnamachari Srikkanth (South), Gopal Bose and Raja Venkat (East), Surendra Bhave (West), Hirwani (Central).

Assuming nobody else comes into the picture in the next 24 hours, the chief selectorship will then go to Srikkanth, also a former captain.

If the norms do get modified and Vengsarkar stays on, then it’s possible that Srikkanth won’t make himself available. In that case, Woorkeri Raman could come into the frame in a big way. Perhaps, even Syed Kirmani.

The Assam officials are lobbying for Rajesh Borah, but it’s now a straight fight between Bose and Venkat, a member of Bengal’s Ranji-winning squad in 1989-90.

Former captains Chandu Borde (West) and Gundappa Viswanath (South) were being talked about, but they’re ineligible as both have already been selectors for four years.

That bit got added in the BCCI’s constitution last year, when it was amended. The selectors’-specific clauses, however, are to come into effect from this weekend.

Significantly, the buzz is that the paid selectors will initially be appointed for just one year, not two.

NORMS FOR SENIOR SELECTORS

Those who have played for India, or those who have played more than 25 first-class matches

He should have retired at least ten years ago

The selector will be paid an annual honorarium of Rs 25 lakh

The selector will not be an office-bearer of the BCCI or any of its affiliated units

Note: Decided by the BCCI working committee on August 23