BCCI to host high-level review meeting in Mumbai on Thursday

Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar (File pic)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to host a long-standing review meeting at its headquarters in Mumbai on Thursday, where all office-bearers, along with head coach Gautam Gambhir, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, and Centre of Excellence (CoE) head VVS Laxman are expected to be in attendance.

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia had told IANS on July 10 that a detailed review meeting was to happen after India's tour of England would end on July 19. The session was initially meant to address T20I setbacks in England and Ireland alongside an ODI series loss to England, but was delayed by tours to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, where India logged 3-0 and 1-0 victories.

Sources familiar with the meeting's agenda told IANS on Wednesday that the high-level meeting will finally happen on Thursday. "Yes, there is a meeting scheduled on September 3. All top Board officials and other concerned members are scheduled to arrive in Mumbai for it by tonight."

"The in-depth discussion will primarily revolve around the recent results of the senior men's team and reviewing where things went right and wrong. The discussion will also be around the ongoing injury concerns around many players like Hardik Pandya and drawing plans for important assignments like the multi-format tour of New Zealand, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at home and 2027 Men's ODI World Cup," further said sources to this news agency.

Player fitness concerns for upcoming tours

Fitness troubles remain evident following Tuesday's T20I squad selection against Afghanistan. Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Harshit Rana were provisionally named for the series in New Delhi from September 13-17. Hardik Pandya's ongoing absence post-2026 T20 World Cup triumph, most recently due to a shin blow, has raised questions regarding his long-term bowling workload ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Additionally, former BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly, currently leading the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), will attend the board's Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mumbai on September 18. The AGM will elect two IPL Governing Council representatives, with 31 of 35 state associations participating, while Hyderabad, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Bihar miss out due to administrative issues.

(With inputs from IANS)