MSK Prasad, hailing from Andhra Pradesh, played six Tests and 17 ODIs in his brief international career. (Source: Reuters) MSK Prasad, hailing from Andhra Pradesh, played six Tests and 17 ODIs in his brief international career. (Source: Reuters)

On Wednesday, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed MSK Prasad as the new chairman of the national selection committee. BCCI’s decision of appointing Prasad and the rest of the selection committee was in complete defiance of the Lodha Committee recommendations, which had called for a three-member committee as opposed to the five-member one that the Board has stuck to.

Mannava Sri Kanth Prasad, during his playing days, was a wicketkeeper batsman. He made his international debut in an ODI against Bangladesh in Mohali in 1998. His first Test cap came the following year against New Zealand at the same venue. Prasad was brought into the setup in place of Nayan Mongia who was nursing an injury. This opportunity allowed MSK to play six Tests until 2000.

Although his keeping skills was praised, his batting performances on the international stage was highly inconsistent. In six matches that he played, MSK scored just 106 runs (in 10 innings) for a miserable average of 11.77 with a highest score of 19.

In 2000, Mongia was called back to the India squad which led to Prasad getting dropped. He didn’t find a way back to the national setup since then.

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After being dropped from the Test squad in 2000, Prasad continued his first-class career for seven more years. In all he played 96 first-class matches and scored 4021 runs. He also captained the Andhra Pradesh team for the 2007-08 Ranji Trophy season after which he announced his retirement.

Prasad was the director of Andhra Cricket Association for six years. In 2012, ACA Vice President DVSS Somayajulu offered Prasad to become member of its executive committee, which the former cricketer accepted.

MSK Prasad’s lack of experience at the international stage – with a total of six Tests and 17 ODIs under his belt – has been a big point of criticism for the BCCI to appoint someone at such a high profile.

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