Ajit Agarkar’s absence from BCCI meeting raises eyebrows

Ajit Agarkar’s absence from the BCCI performance review meeting on Thursday has intensified speculation over his future as chief selector beyond this month.

Agarkar, who has chaired the National selection committee since July 2023, was the only key stakeholder missing from the high-profile meet convened at the BCCI headquarters to review India’s recent performances and chart a roadmap for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia sought to downplay his absence, insisting that Agarkar was unavailable because of “personal commitments” and that the meeting had been organised “at short notice”. Yet, with Agarkar’s existing contract set to expire at the end of the month, his non-attendance has fuelled murmurs about a growing distance between him and the Board’s hierarchy.

The Hindu understands that the relationship between the two sides has been strained since July, when Saikia publicly issued a statement backing Rohit Sharma’s continuation in India’s ODI set-up without consulting Agarkar and his fellow selectors. The move came amid internal discussions over Rohit’s future and created unease within the selection panel.

Since then, there has reportedly been no formal communication between the BCCI administration and Agarkar regarding a possible extension. Under the Board’s regulations, the former India pacer is eligible for a contract renewal, which would allow continuity through the ODI World Cup cycle.

“There was no such discussion in today’s meeting,” Saikia said when asked whether Agarkar would get another year at the helm. “There was no discussion on the selection committee. Our whole focus was on the performance in England and Ireland as well as the recent Test series in Sri Lanka and what we are going to do in the upcoming series and the World Cup, which is our ultimate goal.”