New Delhi, Oct 21:
Former India off-spinner Ramesh Powar has been appointed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s men’s senior selection committee, marking a change in the panel responsible for selecting India’s national team across formats.
The BCCI announced the appointment on Monday after its Cricket Advisory Committee, comprising former cricketers Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape, conducted interviews and recommended Powar unanimously. He replaces former chairman Ajit Agarkar, whose tenure ended earlier this month. Former India left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha will head the five-member committee on the basis of seniority, determined by the number of Test matches played. The panel also includes Shiv Sundar Das, RP Singh and Ajay Ratra.
Powar represented India in two Tests and 31 One-Day Internationals during his playing career between 2004 and 2007. Following his retirement, he moved into coaching and held several important positions, including head coach of the Indian women’s team and coaching roles with Mumbai and Gujarat. He also served as a bowling coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. During his tenure with the women’s team, India won the Asia Cup and secured a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, adding to his credentials as a coach with experience at the international level.
The appointments come at an important stage for Indian cricket, with the team preparing for a demanding overseas tour of New Zealand comprising five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests. The selection committee will be responsible for balancing immediate results with long-term team development, identifying emerging talent and managing the transition between experienced players and younger prospects. The BCCI also acknowledged Agarkar’s contribution during his tenure, which saw India achieve success in major international tournaments. With Ojha taking charge and Powar joining the panel, attention will turn to how the reconstituted committee approaches selection, player workloads and squad planning across formats.