Rathore may replace Yashpal Sharma as North Zone selector

The formation of the new selection committee continues to raise speculation. It is difficult to predict the future of Kris Srikkanth, but it is, however, clear that North Zone will have a new selector. Former India opener Vikram Rathore has emerged as a strong contender for the post.

Rathore’s name is doing the rounds in board circles and if an informed official is to be believed, the Punjab player will replace Yashpal Sharma as the North Zone nominee. Yashpal will complete the stipulated four years as national selector next month.

The only problem for Rathore could come from his state association. Rathore, who played six Tests and seven ODIs, was recently appointed Punjab coach. Whether the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) will be willing to release him is a moot point. Rathore is also part of the coaching staff of IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab.

The second candidate in the fray is Sanjeev Sharma. The former India pacer, who has played for Delhi, Rajasthan and Railways, has a few backers in the board. He is also a former chairman of the BCCI’s junior national selection committee.

The other ‘interested’ candidate is Chetan Chauhan, who, like Rathore, is a former India opener. But the problem with both Chauhan and Sharma is that they both come from Delhi, which is currently being represented by Yashpal. Although Yashpal has never played for Delhi in domestic cricket, he is being considered as a representative of the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA).

It remains to be seen if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is willing to have selectors for two consecutive terms from the same association.

The other problem for Chauhan is that he will have to give up the DDCA vice-presidency as the BCCI rules do not allow an office bearer of a state association to be a selector. One may recall that Dilip Vengsarkar had to give up his chairmanship in 2008 after he insisted on continuing as Mumbai Cricket Association vice-president.

Rathore lives in Delhi and the DDCA is unlikely to object his nomination. He will also get the backing of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association.

Meanwhile, there is no indication of a change in the chairmanship despite the recent debacle of the Indian team in England.

Srikkanth’s committee is credited to have taken India to the No 1 position in Tests and, of course, to World Cup glory. The former India skipper and opener, is unlikely to be punished for one bad series unless he himself decides against continuing.

Roger Binny, a World Cup-winner like Srikkanth, is tipped be the next selector from South Zone but the former Karnataka player may have to wait for another year. The other selectors — Surrender Bhave (West), Raja Venkat (East) and Narendra Hirwani (Central) — are set to stay on for one more year to complete their four-year term.