New selection committee needs time to perform, says Sourav Ganguly

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, has defended the newly-appointed selection committee which the Indian media has been criticising due to a lack of playing experience amongst the members.

The newly appointed Selection Committee is chaired by former Indian wicket-keeper MSK Prasad and the BCCI appointed Sarandeep Singh, Jatin Paranjpe, Devang Gandhi and Gagan Khoda as the remaining four members. Prasad and Khoda were part of the earlier selection committee as well.

The new Selection Committee led by MSK Prasad has played a combined 13 Tests and 31 ODIs among them. The current president of the CAB (Cricket Association of Bengal) Ganguly admitted that the new selection panel has less experience but also defended the committee by saying they deserve a chance. “Give them a chance and see what happens," Ganguly said in an interview with India Today.

Ganguly also praised the efforts of MSK Prasad and Gagan Khoda in the previous year. “Prasad and Khoda have done a good job for the last one year. It's up to the three new selectors as to how they do - Jatin is a tough character from Mumbai,” he continued before defending the panel.

He also believes that the new selection panel will have to rely hugely on the expertise of Prasad and Khoda.

“Prasad and Khoda have already been a part of the selection committee for the last two years. There's not much experience but that's the way they have to deal with it," Ganguly said.

Ganguly also admitted that he was unable to provide more information on the abilities of the selection panel members as he was not a part of the selection process. “Obviously, I was not a part of it (the selection process) so I can't give too much information. Hopefully, these guys can do a good job.”

The BCCI appointed new selection panel will begin its designated process by picking the squad for the ODI series against New Zealand. The panel will also be responsible for 10 Tests at home and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

The future of Indian cricket hugely depends on the Prasad led committee as one the biggest decisions in Indian cricket, handing Viral Kohli the captaincy of the ODI squad rests with the panel. Despite the disbelief in the committee’s ability to make such a decision, Ganguly backed the panel, “Cricketers who have not played too much international can sometimes take tough calls as opposed while big name cricketers think twice before dropping a big name cricketer.”