Patel named India’s chief selector

Published September 20, 2002

KOLKATA, Sept 19: Former Test batsman Brijesh Patel was Thursday elected chairman of India’s revamped cricket selection committee that includes four new faces including member of parliament Kirti Azad.

Patel, himself a first-time selector, replaces Chandu Borde following the annual elections of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) here.

Jagmohan Dalmiya, meanwhile, was unanimously re-elected BCCI president for another year, while Karunakaran Nair took over as secretary from Niranjan Shah.

Patel, a dashing batsman who played 21 Tests in the 1970s, will be joined by three ex-internationals — Azad, Kiran More and Pranab Roy — and former first class cricketer Sanjay Jagdale in the new five-man selection panel.

Jagdale is the only surviving member of the previous committee after erstwhile colleagues Madan Lal, Ashok Malhotra and Shivlal Yadav were ousted in the elections.

Azad, a member of India’s World Cup winning squad in 1983, played seven Tests before retiring five years later to pursue a career in politics.

He is a sitting member of parliament belonging to the ruling Hindu nationalist party, the Bhartiya Janata party (BJP).

More was India’s wicket-keeper for 49 Tests till 1993 while Roy, son of former opener Pankaj Roy, played two Tests on a tour of England in 1982.—AFP/Reuters