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Ugra: Good to see former players actively involved

Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman will constitute the cricket advisory committee of the BCCI. The decision was announced by secretary Anurag Thakur following a conference call with them on Monday morning.

The committee, a brainchild of Thakur and BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, will be consulted for all major cricket-related decisions. One of the primary tasks of the committee, it is understood, is to set in motion the procedure to appoint the head coach or the team director of the Indian team.

"I have just come to know about the committee, rest I don't know. I don't even know what is the role of the advisory committee. (But) I am happy to work with Sachin and Laxman," Ganguly said.

If Ravi Shastri, who had stepped in as team director for six months preceding the conclusion of the World Cup 2015, is unavailable for India's tour to Bangladesh later this month, then one of the newly appointed committee members may join the Indian team in a mentoring role.

In the longer run, the BCCI expects the committee to be a facilitator between the administrators and the cricketers. The trio is likely to be consulted for enhancing cricket development in Indian cricket. Over the next three months, the committee will be asked to prepare a plan to increase the talent pool of Indian cricketers and mentoring young and India cricketers on technical as well as mental aspects ahead of major assignments.

"I am happy to note that our eminent cricketers have come forward to lend their experience and insights as we work towards a common goal of taking Indian Cricket to greater heights," BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya said in a press release. " The coming generations are bound to benefit from the guidance that will be provided by these luminaries and will go a long way in strengthening our existing system."

BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said their "invaluable advice will help Indian cricket regain its leadership position in all formats of the game."

Thakur and Dalmiya had spelt out their intentions to form the advisory committee after being elected in March. The duo had initially approached Ganguly, Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. While Dravid was unavailable for the role, Tendulkar had sought more details about the committee's functioning.

Once he and Laxman were convinced during the conference call, they agreed to come on board.