Reports: Zaheer Khan in line to replace Ajit Agarkar as BCCI chief selector

The BCCI is set to not renew Ajit Agarkar’s contract as chairman of the selection committee, with Zaheer Khan identified as the frontrunner to fill the vacancy. Agarkar is expected to vacate the role at that point, bringing his stint with the board to a close.

Earlier reports stated that discussions between the BCCI and Zaheer Khan over the chief selector position are already underway. Agarkar’s contract began on July 4, 2023, and he will complete three years in the role in September, which makes him eligible for a one-year extension.

“Another name that has cropped up as Agarkar’s replacement is Zaheer Khan. The former pacer is being discussed if Agarkar fails to keep his job and Laxman is made director of cricket,” the report said as quoted by NDTV Sports.

Despite that eligibility, the board is understood to have decided against offering him that extension. BCCI office bearers are also expected to hold a meeting with Agarkar following the conclusion of India’s Test series against Sri Lanka to formally address his future with the board. Harbhajan Singh has also been reported as keen on the chief selector role.

Why is Agarkar’s contract not being renewed?

A key factor behind the board’s decision appears to be a sustained difference of opinion between the selection committee and BCCI officials over the handling of senior players, particularly captain Rohit Sharma.

According to The Indian Express, the selectors had communicated to Sharma that he was being considered for removal from the squad in the aftermath of the England series in July. The BCCI did not agree with that stance and instead preferred that Sharma’s position be evaluated on a match-by-match basis as India build towards the 2027 ODI World Cup.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia made the board’s position public, stating that Sharma will continue to represent the country as long as he is in the scheme of things. That statement underlined the gap between the board and the selectors on a significant personnel question. No official reason for the decision not to extend Agarkar’s contract has been disclosed by the BCCI.

Who could succeed Agarkar as chief selector?

Zaheer is the name most prominently linked with the chief selector role. The former India pacer is being actively considered, particularly in a scenario where VVS Laxman is appointed to a newly created Director of Cricket position. Laxman had been an early candidate to directly replace Agarkar but is understood to have declined interest in the chief selector role because of the extensive travel it demands.

It also crucial to note that Zaheer’s candidacy gains further traction specifically if Laxman moves into the Director of Cricket role rather than the selection committee chair. Parthiv Patel has also been named in a separate report as a leading candidate for the position, though that claim conflicts with the earlier Zaheer reports and remains unresolved. The BCCI has not made any official announcement on the succession.