Selection committee chairman won't brief media

Dilip Vengsarkar, the selection committee chairman, won't have to face the media after the committee meetings © Cricinfo Ltd

The Indian board has decided to abandon the practice of the chairman of selectors attending press conferences after selection committee meetings and will instead announce the decisions through a media release.

The decision was taken at the BCCI office-bearers' meeting in Delhi on Tuesday, the board secretary, Niranjan Shah, said on Wednesday.

The Indian team for the first two Tests against Pakistan was chosen on Wednesday but, instead of Vengsarkar addressing the media, a release with the squad details was handed out.

The practice of the chairman of selectors addressing the media after a committee meeting is not codified and has varied in the past few years. Chandu Borde began his tenure following this practice but stopped after a while. The practice was revived by Kiran More, Vengsarkar's predecessor.

Vengsarkar, who had been asked by the board to discontinue his syndicated newspaper column, was also not present to speak to the media after Anil Kumble was chosen as the captain for the Test series against Pakistan. The announcement was made in Mohali by MP Pandove, the BCCI's joint secretary.