BCCI institutionalises formal bridge between Centre of Excellence and national selection panel
VVS Laxman will attend all selection meetings to ensure selectors receive complete fitness information from the Centre of Excellence.
The BCCI has decided that VVS Laxman, head of the Centre of Excellence, will attend all future selection meetings to avoid miscommunication between the CoE and selectors about players' fitness and injuries. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the move was decided after a review meeting in Mumbai and will be the norm going forward.
Laxman will not be able to replace Ajit Agarkar directly as the vacancy is for a West Zone selector and Laxman is from the South Zone. The decision addresses concerns over multiple player injuries, some of which occurred immediately after players returned to the team from the CoE.
Saikia said the move ensures selectors get complete and accurate information so they can make the right decisions. The structural change formalises communication between the Bengaluru facility and the national selection panel rather than treating it as an ad-hoc arrangement.
CricHubb Take
The real test will come when Laxman pushes back on a selector's pick for fitness reasons — whether the CoE's medical say-so now carries more weight than the panel's gut feel.