The Madan Lal-led Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) on Thursday will virtually conduct interviews of the candidates to fill the three vacant positions in the senior selection committee. India’s former pace bowler Ajit Agarkar is said to be the most favoured to bag the selector’s position from West Zone. Him being the bowler with most wickets in Test cricket among the candidates who have applied could possibly see him becoming the chairman of the selection panel. According to BCCI’s updated constitution, the candidate with the most Test appearances becomes the chief selector.

Among the 11 candidates applied Ajit Agarkar is the most experienced candidate. Agarkar has featured in 191 ODIs, 26 Tests and 4 T20Is. With 288 international wickets, he is also the third-highest wicket-taker in ODIs for India. He is only behind Anil Kumble (334 wickets) and Javagal Srinath (315 wickets).

Asides from Agarkar, Nayan Mongia and Abey Kuruvilla have applied from West Zone. From the North Zone Maninder Singh, Vijay Dahiya, Chetan Sharma, Nikhil Chopra and Ajay Ratra and from East Zone Debashish Mohanty, Ranadeb Bose and Shiv Sunder Das have applied for the position.

It is said BCCI has decided to retain the zonal criteria for the formation of the selection panel. Jatin Paranjpe (West Zone), Devang Gandhi (East) and Sarandeep Singh (North) have finished their terms. Once the committee is appointed, they will be selecting the Indian team for the home series against England.