Former offspinner Ramesh Powar has been named as the newest member of the India men’s senior selection committee representing the West Zone. The appointment fills the vacant seat left following the departure of former chief selector Ajit Agarkar, whose term officially concluded earlier in the month.
The selection panel will now operate under the leadership of Pragyan Ojha, who steps into the role of chairman. Under the established guidelines of the board, the position of committee chair is assigned based on seniority determined by the total number of international matches played, with a distinct preference given to Test appearances. This seniority metric allowed Ojha, who represented India in 24 Test matches, to assume the chairmanship.
Appointment Background and Panel Composition
The cricket advisory committee, consisting of former players Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape, selected Powar for the role over several other candidates who had applied for the position. Powar’s career in national colours included two Test matches and 31 One-Day Internationals between 2004 and 2007. Since concluding his playing career, the Mumbai-born cricketer has established a prominent coaching profile within the domestic and international setup.
- Ramesh Powar joins the selection panel representing the West Zone.
- Pragyan Ojha takes over as the official chair of the selection committee.
- Powar previously served two stints as head coach of the India women’s national team.
- The current selection panel also includes Shiv Sunder Das, RP Singh, and Ajay Ratra.
Coaching Experience and Future Outlook
During his tenure as a coach, Powar guided the women’s national team to an Asia Cup triumph and a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games. He has also managed domestic heavyweights like Mumbai and Gujarat, alongside working as a bowling coach at the board’s high-performance centre. The newly constituted panel faces a busy period ahead with crucial international fixtures and domestic talent identification as teams prepare for upcoming global tournaments.
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