Former wicketkeeper MSK Prasad has been chosen to succeed Sandeep Patil as the chairman of India’s selection panel. The decision was taken at the BCCI’s 87th annual general meeting in Mumbai, after the board had invited applicants for the selection job for the first time.

Prasad, who was a part of the previous panel as the South Zone representative, replaced Sandeep Patil as Chairman of the selectors.

The 41-year-old MSK Prasad, hailing from Andhra Pradesh, played six Tests and 17 ODIs in his brief international career.

Gagan Khoda, who has not played any Test cricket has been retained in the committee from the central zone.

Devang Gandhi, Jatin Paranjpe and Sarandeep Singh were the new additions to the selection panel. Of the three, Paranjpe does not have Test experience and has only played ODIs.

The move is in complete defiance of the Lodha committee recommendations, which had called for a three-strong panel with all members having Test experience.

The BCCI’s eligibility criteria, however, stated: “He/She should have represented the Indian team either in a Test match or a one-day international or more than 50 first-class matches in India, in a team selected by the BCCI to be considered for the senior national selection committee.”

BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke said the selection process involved only himself, BCCI president Anurag Thakur and chief executive Rahul Johri, and that they had not sought input from either the Cricket Advisory Committee or other former cricketers.

Former India seamer Venkatesh Prasad has been retained as chairman of the junior selection committee.

When asked about Prasad’s relative lack of experience as international cricketer, Shirke said: “Two selectors had finished their four-year terms, the maximum that is granted to anybody. We have filled it up and the senior most person has been elevated to the chairman’s post.”

Prasad said his appointment was a “great honour”. “I have a clear-cut vision about how we are heading to the 2019 World Cup. I always have kept notes about what I want to do for the 2017 Champions Trophy, for the 2019 World Cup. There is a lot of planning. The best thing is we have watched as many domestic matches as possible. We have done tours to Zimbabwe, Australia only at the end of the season. Because we have watched so much domestic cricket last year we have a succession chart and jotted down names for three different formats. Sandy bhai’s team has done a fantastic job. It makes more sense for us to continue with it and move ahead.”