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Cheteshwar Pujara’s grandfather, father and uncle represented their states at cricket. It was natural Cheteshwar played cricket too © ICC

Cheteshwar Pujara

Pujara has been talked about as special ever since he scored an unbeaten 306 against Baroda Under-14 a week shy of his 14th birthday. A right-hand opener for Saurashtra with all the right signs – orthodox technique, tall stance and fluency on both sides of the wicket – Pujara has enjoyed success with India Under-19, noticeably his 211 against England. He also had a fine run in the 2006 World Cup in Sri Lanka, finishing as the highest scorer with 349 runs at an average of 116.It was only natural that Pujara chose to play cricket: his grandfather Shivlal represented the erstwhile state of Dhrangadhra, while his father Arvind and uncle Bipin played first-class cricket for Saurashtra. Though he initially showed skill bowling legspin, there are many who are glad he stuck to batting, as his numbers at practically every level indicate. He recently toured Zimbabwe and Kenya with India A, scoring a century and two fifties.Last season, List A
Runs: 156, Ave: 31.20Last season, Twenty20
Runs: 110, S/R: 171.87

Abhishek Nayar

The first full season Nayar had with Mumbai was an enthralling one – from facing relegation to being 0 for 5 in the semi-final to winning the Ranji Trophy, he saw it all and kept making vital contributions during the campaign. Nayar is a right-arm medium-pacer who bowls first or second change for Mumbai. He is also a handy, albeit not the most elegant, left-hand batsman in the lower middle order, capable of occupying the crease and also hefty hitting. He recently struck back-to-back first-class hundreds – against Karachi Urban and Rest of India.Last season, List A
Runs: 121, Ave: 17.80
Wickets: 14, Ave: 22.14, Econ: 4.94Last season, Twenty20
2-0-18-1

Satyajit Satbhai

Satbhai’s name was confused for Satyajit Parab’s when the teams for the Challengers were announced, a mistake the BCCI soon corrected. Satbhai, the Maharashtra wicketkeeper, has made the transition from a lower-order batsman to an opener over five-and-a-half years of first-class cricket, in which Maharashtra were demoted to the Plate League and then promoted to the Elite League again.Last season he played only two List A matches for Maharashtra where he scored ducks, and was replaced with younger keepers for the remaining one-dayers and Twenty20 matches. Playing in a team led by Parthiv Patel, it is unlikely Satbhai will get a chance to keep wicket in the Challengers.Last season, List A
Runs: 0

Iqbal Abdulla

A regular performer at the Mumbai club scene, Abdulla, a left-arm orthodox spinner, came into the limelight when he ran through Haryana’s batting line-up with a five-for in a Twenty20 game. He was soon drafted into the Indian Under-19 side for a tri-series in Sri Lanka, where he was the third-highest wicket-taker with eight wickets for 69 runs in 31.1 overs. Abdulla is a smart batsman lower down the order and has the promise to develop into a consistent contributor.Last season, Twenty20
24.1-0-153-11

Tall and strapping, Pankaj Singh is reaping the rewards of his hard work in domestic cricket © AFP

Pankaj Singh

Pankaj, a tall and strapping right-arm medium-fast bowler from Rajasthan, has progressed from the Under-19 level to the A side with consistent performances since he made his first-class debut in August 2003. By 2006 he started showing signs of having matured, taking Rajasthan to the final of the Ranji Plate league, with 21 wickets at 20.95. In June 2007, Pankaj was asked to join the five-day bowlers’ camp in Mysore. Following that he was also called up to bowl at the conditioning camp in Kolkata just before the Indian team left for Bangladesh. A twin tour of Zimbabwe and Kenya with India A followed: a total of 18 wickets in unofficial Tests and ODIs in Kenya earned him a spot for the home series against South Africa A.Pankaj runs in upright and close to the stumps, and with his open-chested action is capable of generating good pace.Last season, List A
Wickets: 9, Ave: 45.66, Econ: 5.20Last season, Twenty20
3-0-17-1

Srikkanth Anirudha

Following in the footsteps of his father, the explosive Kris, Anirudha is an opening batsman who doesn’t believe in half measures. A compulsive slasher and puller, he made an impact with a string of rapid scores for Tamil Nadu in the 50 and 30-over arena. He has been around since 2004, but it was only late last season that he showed the potential to cut it at this level. He was the fourth-highest run-getter in the domestic Twenty20 last year, carrying himself into the list of 30 probables for the ICC World Twenty20.Last season, List A
Runs: 111, Ave: 27.75Last season, Twenty20
Runs: 285, S/R: 137.68

Niranjan Behera

Another one to have made it to the probables for the ICC World Twenty20, Behera is one of the most consistent performers for Orissa. His batting average of 32.25 and bowling average of 18.50 are reasonable for an allrounder, despite the fact that he has played most of his cricket in the Plate League. His 509 runs at 50.90, the sixth-highest aggregate in the Plate League, were instrumental in Orissa’s ascent to the Super League. With the big boys in the Twenty20 matches, he sneaked into the top-10 in both the batting and bowling charts.Behera bats at No. 3 and is a handy right-arm offbreak bowler.Last season, List A
Runs: 109, Ave: 36.33
Wickets: 5, Ave: 34.20, Econ.: 5.02Last season, Twenty20
Runs: 225, S/R: 117.18
29-0-184-12

Andrew Flintoff: ready to return to the fray © Getty Images

Andrew Flintoff, England’s captain, has insisted that the Champions Trophy is his team’s sole focus, as they prepare to fly out to India this afternoon to begin a long winter campaign that culminates in the Ashes and the World Cup.Flintoff will be leading England for the first time since the Test series against Sri Lanka in June, as he continues to recuperate from an ankle operation that will limit his allround effectiveness in the coming tournament.”Everything I’ve done so far, the running back home, has responded well,” he told reporters at the Heathrow Marriott Hotel. “In the nets I’ve probably bowled at 50-60% and it’s responded well to that, so we’ll start building it up over the next couple of weeks. At this stage we can’t set a date or say when I’ll be bowling again.”Flintoff’s presence alone will boost a one-day side that has missed him woefully at times this season, although their achievement in battling back to a 2-2 draw against Pakistan last month was a timely fillip ahead of the Champions Trophy. “It was a great effort and showed signs of improvement,” said Flintoff, “but what we’ve got to work on is consistency.”England are in a four-man group that includes the hosts, India, as well as the World Champions, Australia, whom England beat in the same competition two years ago, en route to a place in the final. On that occasion they they eventually lost a thrilling match to West Indies by two wickets. Flintoff recalled: “Having played in one before and getting to the final and coming so close, it hurt.””We’re flying out to win the ICC tournament,” he added. “There’s a lot being made of the Ashes but we’ve got to address what’s in front of us first. Over the next few weeks it’s a great opportunity for lads to stake a claim for the World Cup and a chance for us to perform.”That opportunity has arisen largely as a result of the spate of injuries that have decimated England’s Ashes-winning squad since last summer, with Michael Vaughan, Simon Jones and Ashley Giles among the most notable absentees. On Thursday, Vaughan hinted that a return for the final stages of the Ashes was not out of the question, and publicly, Flintoff embraced that prospect. “As soon as we’ve got Michael Vaughan back in the England side the better. He’s a class performer and he’s led the team well.”Flintoff himself said he was “hungry” for action after his three-month lay-off, and believed that the break from the game would be beneficial, both for his game and that of his other injured team-mates. “Some of us have not played a great deal of cricket this summer which has given us time to get in the gym, get fit and have time away from the game.””Now I’m hungry to play cricket, I want to get back on the pitch and play. When you’re not playing you realise how much you do miss it.”

Viv Richards is not a happy man © Getty Images

Sir Vivian Richards, the legendary West Indian batsman, has expressed concern over the resignation of Rawle Brancker, the Cricket World Cup 2007 chairman, and the findings of the Lucky Commission Report.Richards said that Brancker’s resignation, should be a wake-up call for those planning the World Cup event. “I think it was a brave decision because it is men who make those decisions not boys,” Richards said recently. “I think Mr Brancker needs the support of the rest of the individuals who are lying like dead ants to come and start coughing up and say exactly what’s happening. We have a right to know. Our cricket is in too much turmoil.”Richards, who scored 8540 runs in 121 Tests, said it appeared as if administrators in the Caribbean were not focused enough on developing the regional game. “To me there is lot more action off the field than what’s on it and that’s a worrying thing. We have got something to represent in 2007. It’s like people are licking their chops, rubbing their hands waiting for that time to come.””(But) what about West Indies cricket? We all talk about the finances and it is at its lowest point and yet still we haven’t heard anyone talk about the development side of things.” He added: “You haven’t heard anyone speak about what’s the process for preparing for 2007. It is a lot of stuff that goes on behind closed doors. We the public need to be a little bit more aware of what’s happening if we really love this thing.””We have got to begin asking important questions because we need answers so that we won’t be embarrassed when 2007 comes.”Further, Richards said that the public needed to also know the contents of the Sponsorship Negotiations Review Committee’s report, that criticised the Digicel sponsorship deal. “We haven’t heard anything about the report, about whether there was any discrepancy that took place. It is like it is gone to sleep,” Richards noted. “From what I’ve heard, some of the report is not good. The public needs to know.”

Gerald de Kock was a commentator before he became the media-liaison man for South African cricket

Gerald de Kock was one peeved communications officer. A prominent local newspaper had published a picture of Graeme Smith’s girlfriend with a caption. The problem was, she wasn’t his girlfriend, but his manager. It was a rare error by an Indian media obsessed with the wives and girlfriends of the South African squad, but it had to be fixed. It was another day in the life of de Kock.de Kock was involved in South African sport for 17 years as a radio broadcaster. Then, one day, after years of being a regular at Wimbledon, Roland Garros, cricket World Cups and numerous Olympics, the opportunity to be the media liaison for the South African cricket team arose.Every day, he monitors anything and everything said and written about South African cricket around the globe. “During the game I have to gauge the pulse of the media box and, based on the chief talk of the day, I warn the players about certain points. I don’t tell them what to say, I just need to let them be aware of things.”For instance, a big match-fixing ring was busted recently, and a gang of six bookies was charged with the intention of fixing the first Test at Kanpur. The players had no clue about it. de Kock silenced all rumours by stating, “It was news to us when we saw the story in the newspapers. As far as we are concerned it is a matter being handled by the local authorities and we have nothing to do with it.” Clear, precise communication to cut down speculation.de Kock laments the lack of trust between the players and the media. He feels that when South Africa returned to international cricket in 1991 there was mutual trust between the players and the media. “Both could trust each other – the player could talk off the record and still trust the journalist.” But not too long afterwards, intense competition between media men resulted in that trust being breached, making the players more cautious.”In each country the relationship between the player and the media is different. Some are close while [in other places] there is a gulf which can’t develop that trust. The trust has steadily dissipated,” de Kock says, “as there is a lot of competition now.”He understands and agrees that both sides need each other. “The media needs the game to keep their jobs, and the game needs the media to get the money.”de Kock has toured every Test-playing nation, apart from Australia, with the team. Of the lot, he says, England had the best media set-up, which made his job as a media manager easier. But when Smith hit two double-hundreds on the trot in 2003, the job was anything but easy. “Graeme Smith had scored those back-to-back double-centuries at Edgbaston and Lord’s and there was this barrage of media requests every minute. I had lost my privacy.” There were dozens of calls at all times of the day, and sleep suddenly became a rare commodity.Having played as an amateur in the Birmingham leagues, de Kock says that watching the game becomes monotonous at times, but the same cannot be said about his job. “Every day is a new one.” Especially during home series, where he needs to make sure that the media are catered for. “During the home series I am not just a media manager, I have to look after the media and make sure that they are satisfied not only with their reporting requests but [are also kept] happy by providing them with good facilities.”His experience in the media has helped him deal with it in this new role. But he has to maintain a very fine balance, and find the middle ground. “I am always in the middle where the media sees you as the enormously high barrier, whereas players feel you are a low barrier. I am not there to keep anyone happy but to facilitate, to make sure that there is access and communication on both sides.”Still, how did he handle the error about Smith’s girlfriend? Were there frayed tempers, shredded newsprint, or anything dramatic? “I spoke to both Graeme and Minki and both of them are fine. They laughed off the report.” An anticlimactic outcome, but one a media manager could count as a minor success.

Frizzell County Championship Division One
Table
Kent 535 v Surrey 125 and 169 for 7 at Canterbury (Day 2)
Scorecard
Surrey’s title hopes took a massive dive as they spiralled to almost-certain defeat against Kent. Surrey were forced to follow on and then made a right mess second time round as well, ending up 241 runs behind with only three wickets left. Replying to Kent’s 535, Surrey crashed to 125 all out in 28.5 overs. Martin Saggers started the rot by ripping through the top order as Surrey lurched to 64 for 5. Saggers, who took 4 for 40, was on the mark right from the off. He bowled Ian Ward (2), Jonathan Batty (28) and Mark Ramprakash (4), then trapped Nadeem Shahid lbw for 4. Then Amjad Khan took over. He winkled out three further wickets, including the battling Rikki Clarke for 26, then Muttiah Muralitharan polished off the tail with Surrey still trailing by 410. Saggers then took another two, and Murali three, as only Ian Ward (53) and Ally Brown (40) provided much resistance in Surrey’s second innings.Essex 335 and 154 for 1 beat Nottinghamshire 284 and 204 by nine wickets at Chelmsford (Day 3)
Scorecard
Alastair Cook and Andy Flower led Essex to their second Championship victory of the season, both of which came against Notts. While the win kept alive Essex’s slim hopes of surviving relegation, it confirmed Nottinghamshire’s drop to the second division. Chasing 154, Cook scored an assured 69 not out on his first-class debut then, after Will Jefferson departed for 38, Andy Flower cracked a brisk 45 from 35 to help Essex home. That target of 154 would have been even less if it hadn’t been for Jason Gallian, who rescued Notts with a fighting 79 from 245 balls. Andy Clarke (4 for 34) picked up three quick wickets in the morning as Notts stumbled 108 to 5. Bilal Shafayat then became James Foster’s fourth catch of the innings, but Gallian held firm. He got some help from Paul Franks, who made 23, but once he was out, Essex wrapped up the last three wickets for 31 to set up their nine-wicket win.Warwickshire 449 v Lancashire 781 at Edgbaston (Day 3)
Scorecard
Lancashire passed 700 for the second time in a fortnight as Stuart Law and Carl Hooper added to their mountain of runs this season with a stand of 360 – a fifth-wicket record for Lancashire – against Warwickshire. Law and Hooper are becoming a very prosperous double act for Lancashire and they followed their stand of 282 against Middlesex last week with another batting masterclass. Law started play on 11 not out, and Hooper with only a single, but they both raced to their centuries as Lancashire ended the day on a massive 781, and a lead of 332. Law biffed his way to 168, including 23 fours, while Hooper smashed 16 fours and eight sixes in his 177 before he was caught shortly before tea. Glen Chapple then smacked a quick 60 from 85 balls to add to the Warwickshire attack’s dismal day. Melvyn Betts finished with 0 for 151, while Mark Wagh took seven wickets, but for the small matter of 222 runs.Sussex v Middlesex 392 at Hove (Day 1)
Scorecard
With Surrey in all sorts of trouble at Canterbury, the Championship favourites Sussex failed to put Middlesex under the same kind of pressure, as Andy Strauss and Owais Shah added 219 in Middlesex’s healthy 392. Strauss continued his purple patch with 138 from 172 balls, while Shah creamed 140, featuring 25 fours and two sixes. Jason Lewry did strike twice early on to leave Middlesex teetering on 33 for 2, but then the Strauss-Shah duet held things up. However, when Shah was finally out to Mushtaq Ahmed, the last five wickers tumbled for 18 as Mushtaq cleaned up the tail and took his tally to 95 scalps this season.Frizzell County Championship Division Two
Table
Northamptonshire 538 for 7 dec beat Durham 190 and 263 by an innings and 85 runs at Wantage Road (Day 3)
Scorecard
Jason Brown led Northants to an emphatic win against Durham which all but guarantees their return to Division One next season. Brown took his season’s tally to 55 with a matchwinning spell of 5 for 90 as Durham surrendered for 263 in their second innings. Martin Love top-scored with 84, and Phil Mustard (35) and Graeme Bridge (33 not out) put on 51, but once that partnership was broken, the end came quickly as Durham lost their last four wickets in seven balls to Brown and Graeme Swann (3 for 77). Yorkshire 410 and 132 for 1 beat Somerset 228 and 313 by nine wickets at Headingley (Day 3)
Scorecard
Matthew Wood and Anthony McGrath led Yorkshire to a comfortable win against Somerset, to give their side a sniff of promotion back to Division One. Wood (53 not out) and McGrath (67 not out) added 103 while chasing their target of 132. The Yorkshire attack, boasting four England internationals, shared the wickets between them, but Steve Kirby grabbed the two most important ones. He dismissed Neil Edwards for 90 and Jamie Cox for 59 as Somerset were bowled out for 313.Gloucestershire 401 and 209 for 8 v Derbyshire 321 at Bristol (Day 3)
Scorecard
Jon Lewis and Craig Spearman put Gloucestershire in a strong position going into the final day against Derbyshire. Lewis took a season’s-best 7 for 117 in Derbyshire’s 321, in which Steve Stubbings scored a valuable 103 before the last four wickets added 87. Derbyshire still trailed by 80, and Spearman then rubbed in Gloucestershire’s advantage as he walloped a quickfire 87 from 85 balls. Graeme Welch and Paul Havell took three wickets apiece, but Gloucestershire were in charge with a 289-run lead at the close.Worcestershire 364 and 313 for 9 dec v Hampshire 265 and 91 for 2 at the Rose Bowl (Day 3)
Scorecard
Worcestershire, whose promotion was confirmed when Durham lost to Northants, are likely to be celebrating again after they moved into a winning position against Hampshire. Resuming on 50 for no loss and with a lead of 149, Kadeer Ali scored 79 and Vikram Solanki hit 77, including 13 fours, as Worcestershire raced to 313 for 9 before declaring. That set Hampshire an unlikely 413 to win, and even though they made steady progress to 91 for 2, they still require another 321 tomorrow.

A defiant captain with everything to win and a plucky debutant with nothing to lose gave New Zealand hope of an unlikely series triumph over Australia in the third cricket Test today.But the Australian attack then used the new ball to pierce the visitors’ ambitions and leave them reeling at 7-293 at stumps on day one at the WACA.The first day of the third and deciding Test ended in carnage as Australia claimed 5-75 in a fiery final hour.Debutant Lou Vincent made his maiden Test century and captain Stephen Fleming his first against Australia as New Zealand reached a commanding 2-217 after teaon the first day.Fleming, who laboured in the nineties for 43 minutes, notched his first ton in three and a half years, before eventually falling LBW to Brett Lee (2-89) for 105.But the day belonged to Vincent.The 26-year-old, who gained an Australian flavour to his cricket during a childhood stint in Adelaide, answered his selectors’ calls with a defiant century that drew appreciative applause from a WACA crowd.He was scratchy early against Australian paceman Glenn McGrath (1-25) before settling in to become just the third Kiwi opener to score a ton on debut.Vincent (104) was finally out, controversially caught by Mark Waugh at slip off Shane Warne (1-66).Television replays indicated the ball’s sharp change of direction was a product of Warne’s prodigious spinning ability, not the edge of Vincent’s probing blade.The pair came together with New Zealand in trouble at 2-19 after less than a quarter of an hour had passed.Almost four hours later, Vincent departed after joining his skipper in a 199 run stand.But then Australia’s quicks, led by Jason Gillespie (3-79) stole the momentum, claiming Fleming, Craig McMillan (4), Daniel Vettori (2) and Chris Cairns (8).

Pakistan Vs NepalThe match commenced at the United Bank Ground Karachi with Nepal taking a disastrous start losing 4 wickets with only 14 runs on the board. The Pakistan bowling being too good for them to face, the whole team was out for 67 runs in 28.5 overs.Amit Shrestha was the only batsman who showed the courage to hold the crease and score some runs. He faced 58 balls to score a face saving 23 including 2 fours, before being trapped LBW by Zulifqar Ali. With 19 runs Mr. EXTRAS was the 2nd highest. No other batsman reached the double figures. Najaf Shah and Munir Ansari shared 3 wickets each.Pakistan gave a big shock to Nepal by capturing the target in 15 overs without losing a wicket. The openers Salman But (27) and Khalid Latif (32) made up the target with the help of 10 extras. Having piled up 69 without loss, Pakistan registered a splendid win over Nepal by 10 wickets.

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has been handed a defensive boost following Matt Doherty’s fantastic performance in Spurs’ 4-0 victory over Leeds at the weekend, with the manager raving about the ‘good’ options now at his disposal.

The Lowdown: Conte’s desire for a right-back

Conte was heavily linked with a number of potential right-back moves during the January transfer window.

Fabio Paratici was close to signing Wolves winger Adama Traore, with Sky Sports reporting that, after an initial £15 million bid was rejected, both sides were nearing a compromise on the fee.

It was said that the Italian boss would utilise Traore as a right wing-back, despite his more attacking origins. However, La Liga giants Barcelona swooped in at the last moment with an offer, as the 26-year-old opted to return to Spain due to his reluctance to play at the back.

This left the 52-year-old with Emerson Royal as his primary option at right-back. Doherty can of course play on both flanks, but shined for Wolves on the right, where he also grabbed a goal and assists against Leeds last weekend.

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The Latest:  Conte handed defensive boost

In his pre-Middlesbrough press conference, Conte sung Doherty’s praises, claiming his versatility offers a ‘good alternative’, as he also confirmed news of returns for Sergio Reguilon and Emerson.

As quoted by football.london, he claimed:

“He’s another player improving, working very hard and improved a lot. He’s a serious guy. I like him, if he plays or doesn’t play, his commitment and his attitude is always at the top. I think he’s improving a lot and he understood that in this squad he can have an important part for this team.

“With Emerson on the right but also Doherty on the left he can give me a good alternative. I was pleased to see him perform at this level. It was the same for Sessegnon.

“Now we have recovered Sergio Reguilon and also Emerson. We’re improving, we’re working hard. We have to use the defeats to learn, to continue to improve in many aspects, not only football aspects but also character and spirit and desire to be strong.”

The Verdict: Much needed depth

Conte will be thrilled to see Doherty’s improvements. This will provide him with much-needed squad depth, as Spurs look ahead to their FA Cup clash against Middlesbrough.

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Statistically, when comparing full-back performances over the past year in European competition and the ‘big 5’ leagues, the Ireland international has been phenomenal.

He ranks in the 99th percentile in Europe for non-penalty expected goals, assists, blocks, clearances and aerial duels won (via FB Ref).

If the 30-year-old can maintain his fine form from the Leeds game, where he earned himself an 8.3 rating, Conte will be sure to utilise him much more frequently.

In other news: Conte sends Dane Scarlett message

The former West Indies offspinner Omari Banks has joined Somerset as a Kolpak player for the 2008 season.Banks, 25, played 10 Tests and five ODIs for West Indies between May 2003 and August 2005, but has since failed to break into the international set-up.His finest hour came at Antigua in 2003, in only his second Test, when he scored 47 not out from No. 8 as West Indies chased a world-record 418 to beat Australia.”Omari is a great signing and will give us strength in depth in key positions in our squad,” said Somerset’s director of cricket, Brian Rose. “He will be a huge asset to us and will be very dangerous in one-day cricket and the Twenty20 Cup.”Banks does not count as an overseas player as he was born in Anguilla, a British protectorate. He spent two months in the Leicestershire second team, with a solitary senior appearance against Pakistan.

Dilip Vengsarkar could well be a national selector soon © Getty Images

The national selection committee will have certainly one, and possibly two, new faces when the BCCI’s annual general meeting takes place in Mumbai on September 27 and 28. Kiran More, the former Indian wicketkeeper who’s currently the chairman of the committee, has completed four years, and will make way for someone else from the West Zone. VB Chandrasekhar, from Tamil Nadu in the South Zone, could also be out, as it is Hyderabad’s turn to nominate someone from South Zone to the national selection panel.”I am tired of answering this question. He [More] has been selector for four years, as per the constitution, and his term is over,” Niranjan Shah, the board secretary, emphatically told Cricinfo, scotching all speculation that this committee could continue intact till the end of the World Cup. Earlier there were suggestions that this committee should continue, with an extra-constitutional extension as a one-off case, as it would benefit the team if there was a sense of continuity in the selection panel till the World Cup was over.”How can the term be extended? Can a secretary’s term be extended just like that?” asked Shah, “[this is ] unnecessary speculation in the media. Why should there be any confusion?” As per the board’s constitution, which is to be amended in September at the forthcoming annual general meeting, the term of office is two years with a possible extension for one year. This means that future selectors could have a three-year term, but that would not be applicable till the constitution is amended.In the current system each of the five zones – North, South, East, West and Central – nominates a candidate to the national selection committee. In the South this is done in rotation among the major teams – Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Hyderabad. At the end of this term, it is Hyderabad’s turn to nominate someone from the zone, and the name of Venkatapathy Raju, the former Indian left-arm spinner, is doing the rounds. Raju is currently head of the Hyderabad selection committee.In the West, the front-runner is Dilip Vengsarkar, but it is unclear whether he wants to take up the post. The West Zone does not follow the tradition of rotation among teams, and could nominate anyone. The name of Dhiraj Parsana, the former Gujarat and India allrounder, has also cropped up. If he becomes a selector Parsana will be the first from Gujarat.Ranjib Biswal (East), Sanjay Jagdale (Central) and Bhupinder Singh (North), the three other members of the selection committee, are likely to continue as they have not completed their terms yet.