Current selection committee to confirm the Rajasthan Ranji Trophy team lineup.

As the domestic cricket season approaches, the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) is under pressure to finalize its squads in time for a series of significant tournaments. The action kicks off on October 8 with the Boys Under-19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy, followed by the Women’s Under-19 T20 Trophy starting on October 9. The prestigious Ranji Trophy is set to commence on October 11, and the Under-23 CK Nayudu Trophy will begin on October 12, creating a tight schedule for the RCA.

Insiders reveal that Bhaskar A Sawant, who has been appointed by the high court as the sole administrator for state cricket affairs, will continue to rely on the selection panel established by the previous ad hoc committee. The formation of new committees would necessitate an Annual General Meeting (AGM), a process that is currently seen as too cumbersome, especially with upcoming elections on the horizon.

A source close to the situation stated, “The five-member panel created by the last ad hoc committee will be the exclusive authority responsible for squad selection. The selectors are scheduled to convene on Thursday to finalize the list of probables for the Ranji Trophy.” The senior men’s selection committee, which was formed in June, is chaired by Vijendra Yadav and includes members Zakir Hussain, Shamsher Singh, Pranay Sharma, and Afroz Khan.

There are growing concerns among players regarding the selection process, particularly since the current committee was not in place during the league matches of the Colvin Shield Trophy. Questions have arisen about whether the five observers who oversaw that tournament will be consulted in the selection of the squad. The oversight during the Colvin Shield was managed by observers including Siddharth Joshi, Ankit Lamba, Abhijeet Sharma, Rajiv Rathore, Pranay Sharma, Kishan Choudhary, and Sumit Mathur.

As the RCA navigates these challenges, the Under-19 Dungarpur Shield is also set to commence on August 22, adding to the urgency of finalizing the teams for the upcoming competitions.