Mumbai chief selector Ajit Agarkar: We have watched enough players

Mumbai chief selector Ajit Agarkar slams allegations over selection committee not watching local matches; says four-member panel won't resign

Ajit Agarkar's senior selection committee is facing a unique challenge to justify their position in Mumbai cricket. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is under intense pressure to call a requisition Special General Meeting to sack the four-member senior selection committee. Breaking his silence for the first time, chairman of selectors Agarkar yesterday made it clear that his committee will not resign and is ready to know their fate in the SGM.

Your word against mine?
Responding to the allegation of his selection committee not watching local matches, Agarkar told a select group of reporters at the Cricket Club of India: "[What] if I say we have watched all games? It is like, 'we say this, you say that'. You look at the players who were not part of our probables [list] and have played for Mumbai last year. It doesn't happen that, 'aaj isko lete hai, kal usko'. Firstly, you look at whether they are performing. The other thing is the input from the captain and coach.

That's how Mumbai cricket has always functioned. Without watching players, you are not going to pick the right players for the Ranji Trophy team. There are multiple ways to watch a player, either in the game or in the nets. I can only tell you that we have watched enough cricket and enough players last year whom we felt would do a good job for the team."

The controversy erupted after Agarkar & Co did not pick some top performers like Shubham Ranjane, Bravish Shetty, Shashank Singh for the pre-season fitness camp. Ranjane and Shashank were among the seven players recently added to the camp. Agarkar made it clear that some players were not included as they had missed the earlier camps without any prior intimation.

"I have kept quiet because generally we don't want the player to read about all this in the media. We wanted to send them a message, and that's why we didn't pick them for this off-season camp. But that doesn't mean we've discarded them for the rest of their lives as is being said. Attitude is as important as your runs and wickets. I saw this was missing last year and there is an endeavour to bring it back. As soon as the one-dayers came, we have brought those guys back in our plans. The coach too wanted them and that is how it usually functions. So, people should be a bit more realistic when passing statements," said Agarkar.

Reacting to Vengsarkar
Reacting to Dilip Vengsarkar's recent opinion about selectors playing with players' careers, Agarkar said: "He is entitled to his opinion. I haven't spoken to him. Having played a little bit of cricket, I can say that when I was asked to do this job, I knew when you pick a player or leave him out. It's a big decision on his career. I don't need anyone else to tell me that. We [selection committee] are sensible enough [to realise] that it [selection] matters to a player's career."

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