Bikash Baruah and Rajesh Borah

Guwahati, Sept. 29: Assam will have to wait for another year to see one of the state’s former players among the five senior national team selectors with the BCCI today deciding to retain the same selection committee for another year in view of the World Cup next year.

Former first class player Rajesh Borah, who was the main contender for the berth (being one of the junior team selectors since 2008), today gave up his berth to save a year of his three-year tenure for the senior selection committee.

Confirming the development, Assam Cricket Association (ACA) secretary Bikash Baruah told The Telegraph from Mumbai, where the BCCI annual general meeting was held today, “The BCCI last night resolved to retain the same set of selectors in view of the World Cup. This is indeed a right move. So we decided to give up Rajesh's berth in the junior selection committee for a year in compliance with the rules to save it for his tenure in the senior committee.”

Borah has been replaced by Tripura nominee Rajeev Debbarman in the junior committee.

When contacted, Borah said the BCCI's decision was “good for all, because a new set of people obviously cannot select the right set of players within a short span of time left before the World Cup”.

The ACA, which was a senior committee berth contender from the East Zone in the September 27, 2008 AGM, was assured that a representative would be given a berth in the panel this time.

Raja Venkat of Bengal was named along with Surendhra Bhave, Yashpal Sharma and Narendra Hirwani in the committee headed by K. Srikkanth.

A senior selection committee member's push is being viewed as the only way out for the ignored Assam players.

Although the cricket circles in the state have been rejoicing in Abu Nechim Ahmed’s selection in the India Red team for the Challenger Trophy, a section is also been disappointed by the fact that batsman Dheeraj Jadhav and off spinner Arlen Konwar were not at all considered.