Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh believes the lack of a lucrative salary is one of the reasons behind the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) not having a high-profile name as the chief selector. The top position in the selection panel is currently vacant since former Indian pacer Chetan Sharma tabled his resignation following his explosive sting operation, released by a news channel.
The former chief of the selection panel made some shocking revelations in regard to players taking injections, cricketers visiting his house, and several other big revelations were made. Although BCCI has remained tight-lipped on Chetan Sharma’s successor, the matter is still under discussion. In a fresh development, Harbhajan Singh has claimed that BCCI must start offering a good salary to the candidates and if they do so, then they might have a high-profile name in that position.
“If you ask Virender Sehwag to become the chief selector, then the salary of that post needs to be analyzed. I don’t know how much the chief selector in India earns, but if Sehwag is in commentary or in other businesses around cricket, then it’s likely he is earning more money. If you want Sehwag, a player with stature, for the chief selector’s job, then spending money has to be key,” Singh told The Indian Express.
He further opined that the chief selector must have the same stature as head coach Rahul Dravid. “Jiski awaz me dum ho, jiske wajood mein du mho (whose voice and stature carry weight),” Singh added. When asked if he would be interested in taking up the role of things improved in future, the celebrated off-spinner said, ‘why not?’
“The job of the coach is to stay with the team and plan around the team. But the team selection is also an equally important job. You have to pick and select the best players and if you don’t select players that are needed by the coach or captain, then the chief selector’s position does not have value,” Harbhajan Singh added.