MCA appoints Paranjape as selector for state teams

Pune, May 2 (UNI) The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) has appointed Vasu Paranjape, a former first class cricketer of Mumbai and Baroda, as a selector with voting rights in all age group committees and Ranji Trophy.

Talking to reporters here last night, MCA president Ajay Shirke said the first class cricketer like Paranjape was never appointed as selector for all Maharashtra teams. He will be a fourth selector, as a link between junior and senior selectors, with voting rights in all the committees (under-13,15,17,19 and Ranji Trophy).

The 68-year-old, who was one of the first coaches at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), said his job is to ''sharpen the skills of boys and their outlook''.

''I want to sent a message out very clearly: if you don't win, your team can,'' he said.

Paranjape said there is no vast difference between youngsters of Mumbai and Maharashtra. ''We will make flat-out effort to win everything.'' In a lighter vein, he said ''I watch the worst of the matches, and there is so much to gain from them. There is an appeal every fifth ball and that keeps you alive.'' The Selection Committees for 2007-08 are as such: U-13 and U-15: Kaisar Fakih, Raju Kane, Surendra Bhave (Chairman, Selector and Coach respectively).

U-17: Riaz Bagwan, Kushal Momaya, Sham Oka.

U-19: Prashant Rai, Subash Ranjane, Chandrakant Pandit.

U-22 and Ranji: Pandurang Salgaocar, K. V. Joshi, Chandrakant Pandit.

UNI