BCCI appoints Ramesh Powar to the Men’s Selection Committee

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed former India spinner Ramesh Powar to the Men’s Selection Committee on 19 October 2026. The board said its two-member Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape, screened and interviewed applicants at BCCI headquarters before unanimously recommending Powar. The Hindu reported that five candidates were interviewed, naming Wasim Jaffer, Salil Ankola, Jacob Martin and Connor Williams alongside Powar; that detail comes from the newspaper’s account rather than the BCCI advisory. [1] [2]

Powar brings international playing and coaching experience to the panel. The BCCI records that he represented India in two Tests and 31 One-Day Internationals. Since retiring, he has worked as head coach of the India women’s team and of Mumbai and Gujarat, as well as bowling coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. The board also credited his India women’s tenure with an Asia Cup title and a Commonwealth Games silver medal. The Hindu reported the same playing record and coaching background and said the new line-up brings together former India players with experience in different parts of the game. [1] [2] [3]

The appointment also changes the panel’s leadership. The BCCI thanked Ajit Agarkar, who had served as chairman since July 2023, and said Pragyan Ojha would chair because he had played the most Tests among the members. The board said Agarkar’s committee oversaw three ICC trophies, two Asia Cup titles and back-to-back Asian Games gold medals during his tenure. The five-member line-up is Pragyan Ojha (chairperson), Shiv Sundar Das, R.P. Singh, Ajay Ratra and Ramesh Powar. [1] [3]

This is an administrative appointment, not a squad or match announcement: Powar joins the group responsible for senior men’s selection decisions, while Ojha takes the chair under the BCCI’s stated seniority rule. The Hindu reported that Agarkar’s tenure ended on 4 October, placing the change in the context of a recent vacancy. As of the 20 October 2026 source check, the latest verified accounts available for this story remained dated 19 October; later committee changes should be checked before any update. [1] [2]