Odisha’s Shiv Sundar Das included in Team India senior men’s selection committee

Former Indian team test opener and Odisha cricketer Shiv Sundar Das has been included in the Senior Men’s National Selection Committee.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced the reappointment of Chetan Sharma as the chairman of selectors, and further announced four names for the committee. With Chetan Sharma being recommended for the position of chief selector, Subroto Banerjee, Salil Ankola and Sridharan Sharath will also be part of the panel apart from Das.

Earlier, Das was the coach at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and with the Indian women’s squad. He has also the experience as batting coach with Punjab. 

The official Twitter account of the BCCI confirmed the development. 

“BCCI announces All-India Senior Men Selection Committee appointments. Mr Chetan Sharma recommended for the role of Chairman of the senior men’s selection committee,” read a tweet from the board.

The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) interviewed 11 candidates before finalising on the five-member panel.

“CAC comprising Sulakshana Naik, Ashok Malhotra, and Jatin Paranjape undertook an extensive process for selecting members of the All-India Senior Selection Committee. The Board received around 600 applications following its advertisement for the five posts issued on its official website on 18th November 2022,” read a statement from the board.

“Upon due deliberation and careful consideration, the CAC shortlisted 11 individuals for personal interviews. Based on the interviews, the Committee has recommended the following candidates for the Senior Men’s National Selection Committee,” the statement further read.

The board had earlier parted ways with the Chetan Sharma-led selection committee after the Men in Blue had failed to reach the final of the T20 World Cup last year.

Das thanked BCCI following his selection in the selection committee and promised to take up the responsibility with utmost sincerity.

“It’s a great opportunity for me. I am so happy to be part of the national selection committee. I had made coaching as my career. It’s a new responsibility for me. I will try my best to take up my new responsibility with utmost sincerity by selecting quality players for Team India. I thank BCCI for feeling me worthy for the important responsibility,” said Das.