Former India leg-spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has reported having applied for a position in the national selection panel along with former off-spinner Rajesh Chauhan and the southpaw batsman Amay Khurasiya. All three former Indian cricketers have confirmed to PTI that they are offering their candidature for a place in the selection committee. The last date for applying is Friday, January 24.

The BCCI will be replacing MSK Prasad (South Zone) and Gagan Khoda (Central Zone) from the current selection panel while Sarandeep Singh (North Zone), Jatin Paranjpe (West Zone) and Devang Gandhi (East Zone) will be continuing for one more season.

Sivaramakrishnan has been commentating for 20 years and has also been a spin bowling coach at the National Cricket Academy besides being part of the ICC’s Cricket Committee. Former junior chairman of selectors Venkatesh Prasad and former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar could also apply for the job, which will make it an interesting three-way battle for the chairman’s position. It is learned that both players are not yet finalized.

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The 54-year-old Sivaramakrishnan has played nine Tests and 16 ODIs, while Bangar has 12 Tests and 15 ODIs under his belt. Prasad has more matches (33 Tests and 161 ODIs) but his two and half years as junior national selection committee chairman means that he can only be a senior selector for one and half years (cumulative four years as selector).

Talking about his application to PTI, Siva said, “I have spoken to my family and have decided to apply for the national selector’s position. If BCCI gives me an opportunity, I would like to make a difference. I believe if I get four years, I would leave Indian cricket in a better space in terms of bench strength in all three departments especially spin bowling.”

In fact, it was Sivaramakrishnan suggested the name of Yuzvendra Chahal to the Indian team management (coach Ravi Shastri in particular) that he could be a potent option in international cricket. 

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Chauhan, a veteran of 21 Tests and 35 ODIs, who played with Anil Kumble and Venkatapathy Raju in the early ’90s, hoped that he will be lucky for the second time. He said,  “I had applied last time also. I am very much interested in the selector’s job and hopefully, my name would come up for consideration.”