Patil returns as Mumbai chief selector

Following a miserable season in all formats, the Mumbai Cricket Association has reinstated Sandeep Patil, the chairman of the national selection panel, as its chief selector. Patil, who took over both the roles on October 1, 2012, had resigned as a Mumbai selector previously citing lack of time for local responsibilities.

"After our bad performance this season, he himself was [interested]. He got in touch with the MCA and made himself available," MCA joint secretary Dr PV Shetty told ESPNcricinfo.

The MCA has also formulated a new rule by which only those individuals who have played at least 25 first-class matches are eligible to become senior selectors. As a result, the new-look selection committee will feature Patil, former captain Milind Rege, Sanjay Patil and Nishit Shetty. None of the people in last year's selection panel - Deepak Jadhav, Paras Mhambrey, Rajesh Sutar and Ravi Thakkar - have been included.

The selection committee overhaul will have to be followed up with the appointment of a new coach. Following Mumbai's failure to qualify for the Ranji Trophy semi-finals last year, MCA sacked Sulakshan Kulkarni as the coach.

The team continued its mediocre run during the limited-overs tournaments under stand-in coach Lalchand Rajput, finishing at the bottom of the West Zone one-day league and failing to qualify for the national Super League of the domestic Twenty20 tournament.