The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken a significant decision regarding player fitness and availability. VVS Laxman, the Head of the Centre of Excellence (CoE), will now mandatorily attend every meeting of the senior selection committee. This decision was reached during a BCCI review meeting held in Mumbai.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia stated that Laxman will be present at every selection meeting to provide selectors with immediate updates on player injuries, rehabilitation, and fitness status. The objective is to bridge the information gap between the selectors and the Centre of Excellence. This marks the first time the presence of the CoE Head has been made mandatory at the Indian cricket team’s selection meetings.
Laxman had also recently attended the selection meeting for the T20 and India-A squads held in Guwahati. Over the past few months, several instances have come to light where a player was found to be unfit after being selected for the squad but before the match took place. This impacted team selection and strategic planning for the match. According to Saikia, Laxman serves as the Head of Cricket and the head of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) at the BCCI. His presence at every selection meeting will provide selectors with clearer information regarding the players’ fitness and availability.
