Make selection more professional: Azad

Former India selector and all-rounder Kirti Azad came out in support of outgoing India coach John Wright, saying it is time the selection process is made more professional.

"I totally agree that the selection process should be made more professional and even the selectors be made more accountable," Azad told reporters in Delhi on Monday.

Wright, whose four-and-a-half-year stint with the Indian team ended after the Pakistan tour, was critical of the selection process, saying paid professionals should be appointed as selectors and they should be given a fixed tenure to ensure continuity and consistency.

"I would love to see that area professionalised, where, maybe, three professionals (are) appointed who are paid for their work," Wright had said.

Currently, five selectors, representing five zones, select the national team, with each of them having a vote.

Azad also supported the view that the zonal system of appointing selectors should be done away with and only a three-member panel formed.

"You can give them a fixed tenure and, may be, have a system of reviewing their performance every six months," he added.

Former India spinner Maninder Singh also came down heavily on the zonal system of appointing selectors and said having a paid panel is the only solution.

"I have heard a few selectors boasting of how many players from their zone have played for the country during their tenure. This is not the right way of selecting a team. We should have a paid selection committee and it should be held responsible for the team's performance."

He said the coach is an integral part of the team management and his role in team selection cannot be underestimated.

The two former internationals were also critical about the role of the Indian Cricket Players' Association and claimed that the body is "lying dormant".

"The Players' Association has been formed twice in the country. Both the times once the problem was solved it stopped functioning. If the players' body has to function successfully it has to work on a regular basis," Azad said.

Maninder also felt that the ICPA is not doing much for the players and said it is essential that they also take up the cause of former cricketers.