Former India cricketer Farokh Engineer slammed the current BCCI selection committee, calling out their incompetency, adding that they were getting Bollywood actor and Virat Kohli's wife Anushka Sharma cups of tea during the World Cup in England earlier this year.
The 82-year-old former wicket-keeper for India said, in an interview to Times of India, that he was disappointed with the MSK Prasad-led committee. He described it as a “Mickey Mouse selection committee”, adding that its members have neither the appropriate qualification nor experience.
Engineer said that skipper Kohli has a major impact in the selection process and that it is a good thing. However, he lambasted the selection committee. He said that all he saw them doing during the 2019 ICC World Cup was get cups of tea for Anushka.
“...how are the selectors qualified? Between them, have they played about 10-12 Test matches,” he said.
“I didn't even know one of the selectors during the World Cup and I asked him who the hell he was, because he was wearing the India blazer and he said he was one of the selectors. All they were doing was getting Anushka Sharma (Kohli's wife) cups of tea,” Engineer said.
Engineer also added that former India cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar should be part of the selection committee to improve the sport in the country.
“I feel people with the stature of Dilip Vengsarkar should be in the selection committee,” he said. The MSK Prasad-led selection panel was appointed in 2016.
Engineer also said that he was pleased with the appointment of Sourav Ganguly was the new BCCI president. “He was a dashing player, a captain who took bold decisions and I hope he does the same as Board president.”
Engineer has played 46 Tests and five ODIs for India between 1961 and 1975.