You end up losing friends being a selector, says Patil

09/12/2016

After selecting the last squad of his tenure as the BCCI's chief selector, Sandeep Patil thanked the Board for giving him the opportunity. Terming his post as a tough one, Patil said that he lost some of his friends while he denied to comment on whether BCCI forced Tendulkar to retire early.

Today, the Sandeep Patil-led selection committee met for the last time, to announce the squad for the upcoming Test series at home, against New Zealand as their term as the members of the selection committee has come to an end. Addressing the press alongside BCCI's Secretary Ajay Shirke, Sandeep Patil expressed his satisfaction working as the chairman of the selection committee.

“We have taken some bold and tough decisions looking at the future of Indian cricket. We are very happy at the end of our term that the team is doing well in all three formats and I wish the next committee all the best,”Patil said.

Patil also thanked the BCCI for giving him the oppurtunity, and the praised the decision taken during his time as the chief selector.

“Also, a big thank you to the BCCI for providing the opportunity. The Board has taken some great decisions during my time. We are happy with the roadmap the BCCI has drawn with Rahul Dravid taking over as coach of the juniors and Anil Kumble the seniors,"

Patil also praised the BCCI and all the zones for their non-interference in selection matter.

"In our four-year term not a single BCCI official of any zone approached the selection committee for any recommendation."

On asking whether there was compulsion on Sachin Tendulkar to retire early, Patil said, “There are some matters between the selectors and BCCI which should remain confidential and cannot be revealed.”

BCCI Secretary Ajay Shirke, later explained about the criteria to select the next selection panel, saying, “The 70 years cap is for administrators (recommended by Lodha panel and upheld by Supreme Court). The 60 years cap we have kept is for selectors keeping in mind that those in 60 to 65 year bracket as an example would not have played all three formats of game. They might have played limited ODIs but no T20s.”

The BCCI intends to keep a five-member selection panel, but the Lodha committee has recommended a three-member committee comprising of former players with Test experience.

“We will definitely have a new selection panel in place. There's no uncertainty for BCCI. I can't say about anything else,” Shirke concluded.