Maninder Singh, SS Das Among Notable Names In Contention For Senior Selectors' Posts: Report

As the date of application for the new panel closed at 6 pm on Monday, it is understood that more than 50 persons have applied but there aren't too many heavyweights in the fray.

Former left-arm spinner Maninder Singh, opener Shiv Sunder Das were the two prominent names to have applied for senior national selectors' posts with experience of playing more than 20 Tests for India. It couldn't be confirmed whether former pacer Ajit Agarkar has applied or not. According to many, Agarkar has a sure-shot chance of becoming selection committee chairman with his international credentials, if he decides to apply. Salil Ankola, current chairman of senior Mumbai team, former keeper Samir Dighe and the flamboyant Vinod Kambli are said to have applied from Mumbai.

As the date of application for the new panel closed at 6 pm on Monday, it is understood that more than 50 persons have applied but there aren't too many heavyweights in the fray.

Among the confirmed applicants, no one has played more Tests than Maninder (35 Tests) while Das (21 Tests) is second in that list.

However, Maninder had applied in 2021 also and despite qualifying for the interview round, he was pipped by Chetan Sharma, who was the choice of erstwhile Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) headed by Madan Lal.

Chetan, in fact, had played lesser number of matches as compared to Maninder but stature-wise both were almost of same category, having been young stars of mid to late 1980s before fading away.