Odisha-born former India spinner Pragyan Ojha assumed another important role in the decision-making structure of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as he was inducted as a member of the Mens Selection Committee at the 94th Annual General Meeting of the apex cricket body of the country in Mumbai today.

Ojha and RP Singh were inducted as new members of the five-member committee, replacing S Sarath and Subroto Banerjee from South and Central Zone respectively. Ojha joined the committee which already has former India opener and Odisha mens team captain Shiv Sundar Das, and Ajay Ratra as members.

Headed by Ajit Agarkar the reconstituted committee will function till the end of its term in October 2026. Ojha became the third Odisha man to be appointed as a member of the BCCI Mens Selection Committee with former India swing bowler Debasis Mohanty being the first. Meanwhile, Mohanty has been appointed as the fast-bowling coach of the India Mens U-19 Team for the forthcoming tour of Australia.

Left-arm spinner Ojha featured in 24 Tests, 18 ODIs and six T20Is from 2009 to 2013. He claimed 113 Test wickets, including seven five-wicket hauls, along with 21 wickets in ODIs and 10 in T20Is. Ojha played domestic cricket for Hyderabad, Bengal and Bihar. In the IPL, he played for Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians, taking 89 wickets in 92 matches. He also served in the IPL Governing Council.

Former Delhi cricketer Mithun Manhas was elected as the new president of the BCCI, while former Madhya Pradesh cricketer Jaydev Shah was elected as Apex Council member at the AGM.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO: File picture of Pragyan Ojha.