In an attempt to bring in transparency and better co-ordination between the team management and the selection panel, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had decided to send a selector along with the national team for overseas tours.
And the attempt did bear some fruits during this year's away series in Pakistan and the West Indies. After sending a selector each for the one-day series and Test series in the neighbouring country, selector Ranjib Biswal was appointed as manager for the tour to the Caribbean islands.
However, while announcing the squad for the South Africa tour, the BCCI didn't announce the selector to accompany the tour – neither as a manager nor purely as a selector.
BCCI Chief Administrative Officer, Prof Ratnakar Shetty, cited 'a constitutional clause' as the reason for discontinuing the policy.
"We had recently adopted the policy for better co-ordination on tour," Shetty told the Hindustan Times on Friday. "However, it was pointed out to us that according to the constitution, the tour selection committee could comprise only the captain, the coach and the team manager."
Shetty added that if a selector has to accompany the squad, he has to have a say in the decision-making process. "If a selector goes, he should have a say in all the matters," he said. "Otherwise, the move doesn't serve any purpose."
{{/usCountry}}Shetty added that if a selector has to accompany the squad, he has to have a say in the decision-making process. "If a selector goes, he should have a say in all the matters," he said. "Otherwise, the move doesn't serve any purpose."
{{/usCountry}}So, will we see a selector flying to South Africa for the Test series at least? "The decision is pending," said Shetty. "It's yet not sure whether he will be able to impose himself."
However, the interesting fact that emerges out of all this is that once the BCCI realised that they cannot make selector as a part of the selection committee on tour, they decided to send Biswal as the team manager.
Since they have discontinued with the practice now, is the team think-tank more comfortable not having a selector on tour?
amol.karhadkar@hindustantimes.com