Parthiv backs BCCI's decision to go ahead with five-member selection committee

Wicket-keeper batsman Parthiv Patel has thrown his weight behind the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to carry on with its conventional five-member senior selection committee.

"I think you can have as many number of selectors you want. But I think this system of five-member committee of selectors has been working since so many years. I think as Indian cricket is divided into five zones, there are five members so that each selector looks after one zone. So, I think if there are five selectors it would be better," Patel told ANI in an exclusive interview.

This comment from the left-handed batsman comes days after the cricket body appointed a five-member selection committee, defying the Supreme Court appointed Justice Lodha panel recommendation which specifically states that the senior selection committee can only have three members and they must be former Test players.

The Lodha Committee recommendations further state that the picking the selection panel based on zones has to be done away with.

The board appointed former India wicket-keeper MSK Prasad as the chairman of the selection committee, a decision taken at the BCCI's Annual General Meeting (AGM) last month.

Prasad has succeeded Sandeep Patil as the chairman of the senior selection committee.

Patil, Vikram Rathour and Saba Karim's four-year tenures ended and they were replaced by Sarandeep Singh, Jatin Paranjpe and Devang Gandhi in the senior selection committee. Former Rajasthan batsman Gagan Khoda is the fifth member.