Just a few days ahead of the biggest decision of whom to appoint as the New Test Captain for team India, BCCI received a blow as Abey Kuruvilla, a member of the Senior Selection Committee has resigned from his post. Kuruvilla was an integral part of the five-member senior selection committee. After Kuruvilla’s departure, they are now left with just four members namely Chetan Sharma, Sunil Joshi, Harvinder Singh, and Debasis Mohanty.
The decision came in accordance with the new constitution of BCCI as no individual can serve more than five years in any cricket committee. Kuruvilla was formerly chairman of the junior selection committee for four years before being picked as the West Zone selector in the senior selection committee in December 2020.
Indian selector will have to quit with no option left
Combined with both the tenures he had completed five years in the selection committee and couldn’t serve any longer as per the new rules of BCCI. The sad part is that his resignation came at a crucial time ahead of two major decisions to be made for the team. The selectors are yet to appoint the new Test Captain of India and select team for the Sri Lanka Series.
The 53-year-old Indian pacer was made to resign after a complaint was filed by former Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association member Sanjeev Gupta in January 2022. The BCCI office-bearers were not aware of this rule until a formal complaint was filed. BCCI will now seek new applications for the vacant post as the senior selection committee is now left with four members.
Kuruvilla was a fast bowler hailing from Mumbai and has played 10 Test Matches and 25 ODIs for India during 1996-97. He was possibly the tallest player to play for India at 6ft 6in. During his tenure as the head of the Junior Selection Committee, the Unmukt Chand-led team won the ICC under-19 World Cup in 2012. In the same year, he was named as the chief selector for Mumbai.
Kuruvilla replaced Paranjpe in December 2020 who earlier held the West Zone selector’s position. According to reports, the 53-year old may be handed over a new responsibility as the post of General Manager, Game Development was left vacant after the resignation of Dhiraj Malhotra last month.
