Vikram Rathour backs BCCI’s decision over new selection panel

Vikram Rathour and his reign as a selector may have come to an end. However, with the BCCI receiving a substantial amount of flak for their inexperienced selectors, Rathour has come out in defence of the board’s decision to appoint players who do not really have as much international experience. The selection panel headed by former Indian keeper MSK Prasad boast of just 13 Test matches between them.

Rathour went on to add that getting the big names to serve as selectors would have certainly helped, but also went on to add the importance of understating the game with the latest trends, something Rathour believes the current selector’s boast of.

“Getting big names with stature would have helped. But those big names have to apply for the job. The board will pick only from among those who applied for the job of a selector. I think all five selectors who have been picked have a good understanding of the game and in touch with latest trends.”

“There are a lot of former stars who are doing commentary, are attached with IPL teams or running academies and did not apply for the job because of the conflict of interest rule. Therefore, it would be completely unfair to blame the current committee,” Rathore said.

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Rathour went on to add the importance as well as the role of being a selector. “India is a vast country and it’s impossible to keep track of so many talented players with just three selectors. Last year, the panel picked some players who I didn’t see till they played for the Rest of India. In last four years, I have seen more than 800 days of cricket, but I still feel I haven’t seen them all. It’s impossible to cover the entire country,” he said.

“You can’t trust someone else’s judgement to pick a player. If the panel member has seen a cricketer then it’s a different story altogether.”