New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named former India wicket-keeper Ajay Ratra as a selector of the senior men’s cricket team, replacing Salil Ankola in the five-member panel led by Ajit Agarkar. As the convention goes, all five selectors represent different zones and Ratra’s inclusion will fulfill the North Zone representation in the committee
The difference arose when Agarkar was appointed chief selector last year and the selection panel ended up having two selectors from West Zone as Ankola was already a part of the committee then. “The Cricket Advisory Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday named Mr Ajay Ratra as the newest member of the Men’s Selection Committee headed by Mr Ajit Agarkar. Mr Ratra will replace Mr Salil Ankola in the Committee,” the BCCI released a statement.
The change comes ahead of the two-match Test series against Bangladesh which begins on September 19. But Ratra will be assuming the role from Thursday when the 2024 edition of the Duleep Trophy kicks off. “It is a huge honour and a challenge. I look forward to contributing to Indian cricket,” Ratra told news agency PTI after the announcement was made.
NEWS – Ajay Ratra appointed member of Men’s Selection Committee.
Mr Ratra will replace Mr Salil Ankola in the Committee.
More details – https://t.co/TcS0QRCYRT
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 3, 2024
Ratra’s stint with Indian cricket
The BCCI had invited applications for the selector’s post back in January and had shortlisted four candidates including Ratra, Retinder Singh Sodhi, Ajay Mehra, and Shakti Singh who were interviewed by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) led by Ashok Malhotra, in June. The senior men’s team selection panel lacked representation from the North Zone after the sudden exit of Chetan Sharma in February 2023.
42-year-old Ratra was a member of the support staff that travelled to Australia last month with India A women’s team. Ratra is also a Level 3 coach and has previously coached Assam, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh in the domestic circuit. He also boasts experience of working extensively at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and was also a part of the Indian team’s coaching staff last year in the ODI series when India toured South Africa
Ratra has represented India in six Tests and 12 ODIs, all of which came in 2002. His brief international stint is highlighted by the unbeaten 115 he smashed against the West Indies in a Test match played in Antigua. “Among all the people interviewed for the job, he was the most deserving candidate,” PTI quoted a BCCI source as saying.
Ajay Ratra has been appointed as a BCCI selector in the Ajit Agarkar-led senior men’s selection committee. He comes as a replacement of Salil Ankola, as announced by the BCCI. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
