In a first, BCCI wants national selectors to attend team meetings

In a departure from the norm, the BCCI on Saturday said the new national selection panel will have to officially "attend team meetings" as and when required.

The Board placed it as one of the key requirements while inviting applications for the post of national selectors. Only two slots will need to be filled in the senior panel after the departure of incumbent chairman MSK Prasad and his colleague Gagan Khoda.

Whether the selector will have a vote in choosing the playing XI is still not clear.

The advertisement also makes it clear that the selection committee tenure will be four years, paving the way for Sarandeep Singh (North), Devang Gandhi (East) and Jatin Paranjpe (West) to continue for another 12 months.

It is clear that one of the new selectors (likely from south zone) will head the panel as the three existing men do not have the stature to lead a senior selection committee.

The most notable requirements in the KRA (Key Responsibility Area) includes selecting the best possible team in fair and transparent manner'. Secondly, planning and preparing a strong bench strength for the national team and the third point pertains to "attending team meetings as and when required".

Last but not the least is "travel to watch international and domestic matches".

When asked, a senior BCCI official said: "Look, selectors have been on tours but as far as I know, there has been no formal clause that allowed them to sit in team meetings.

"Normally, the touring selector meets coach and captain during practice to discuss about tactics and strategy. But this is new development. It's a good thing of touring selector is allowed to sit in team meetings."