Former wicket-keeper Ajay Ratra appointed as fifth selector in BCCI's men's selection committee

Ajay Ratra replaces Salil Ankola in the five-member Indian selectors panel.

Haryana’s Ajay Ratra has been confirmed as the newest member of the BCCI men’s selection committee. He replaced former India pacer Salil Ankola in the five-member selection panel.

Ratra will take charge with immediate effect, his first assignment being the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2025, which will get underway on September 5 in Anantapur and Bengaluru.

The 42-year-old beat Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Shakti Singh and Ajay Mehra to be picked as the replacement of Ankola, who had to make the way from the selection committee after Ajit Agarkar, who is also from the same zone (West Zone) as Ankola, was elected as the new chief selector last year.

Ajay Ratra to watch Duleep Trophy games in Anantapur

Ratra was interviewed by the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) along with three other candidates. The CAC then recommended Ratra for the post.

The BCCI had invited applications for this position in January this year. The board decided to drop Ankola after Agarkar came in because of their convention of not having two selectors from the same zone. The BCCI picks a selector from each of the five zones – north, south, east, west and central.

After winning the under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka, Ratra played six tests and 12 ODIs, all in 2002. He registered a test century, an unbeaten 115 against West Indies in Antigua and became the youngest wicket-keeper to hit a test hundred at the age of 20 years and 148 days.

He has an extensive coaching experience. He’s been the head coach of Assam, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket. Last year, he was part of VVS Laxman’s interim coaching staff for the ODI series in South Africa. Previously in 2021, he was part of Delhi Capitals’ coaching staff as an assistant coach to Ricky Ponting.

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