Ex-India wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra named national selector

The Board of Control for Cricket in India appointed former India wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra as a selector of the men's cricket team on Tuesday. He will replace Salil Ankola in the five-man panel.

As per convention, all five selectors represent different zones and Ratra will represent North Zone in the committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar.

After Agarkar was appointed chief selector last year, the selection panel ended up having two selectors from West Zone, with Ankola already part of the committee.

"The Cricket Advisory Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday named Mr Ajay Ratra as the newest member of the Men's Selection Committee headed by Mr Ajit Agarkar. Mr Ratra will replace Mr Salil Ankola in the Committee," read a statement from the BCCI.

The development comes ahead of the two-Test series against Bangladesh, beginning September 19. Ratra, however, will be on the job from Thursday, when the Duleep Trophy begins.

"It is a huge honour and a challenge. I look forward to contributing to Indian cricket," said Ratra, shortly after the announcement.

The BCCI had invited applications for the post of selector back in January and the four shortlisted candidates, Ratra, Retinder Singh Sodhi, Ajay Mehra and Shakti Singh, were interviewed by the Ashok Malhotra-led Cricket Advisory Committee in June.

The selection panel did not have representation from North Zone following the unceremonious exit of Chetan Sharma in February 2023.

Ratra was also a member of the support staff that travelled with the India A women's team to Australia last month. The 42-year-old is also a Level 3 coach and has coached Assam, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket.

He also worked extensively at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and was part of the Indian team's coaching staff during the ODI series in South Africa last year.

All the six Tests and 12 ODIs he played for India were in 2002. The highlight of his brief international career was the 115 not out he scored against the West Indies in a Test in Antigua.

"Among all the people interviewed for the job, he was the most deserving candidate," said a BCCI source.