"Syed Kirmani will be the chief of India's senior selection committee," president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Jagmohan Dalmiya announced a day after ensuring a third term at the helm.

Kirmani replaced his former Karnataka teammate Brijesh Patel, who is recuperating after heart surgery at a hospital in the southern Indian city of Bangalore.

Arguably the best wicketkeeper produced by India, Kirmani finished with 198 victims in 88 Test matches and was named best wicketkeeper at the 1983 World Cup in England. He last played for India in 1986.

Kirmani, representing south zone, pipped north's Kirti Azad.

Azad, also a member of the 1983 World Cup winning squad, remains a member of the five-member selection committee along with Pranab Roy (east), Kiran More (west) and Sanjay Jagdale (central).

BCCI secretary S Karunakaran Nair will be the convenor.

Dalmiya also announced that former India captain Sunil Gavaskar would remain the chairman of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore.

"The working committee has decided to improve the infrastructure of the NCA and will try and buy land with the purpose of setting up a research centre and laboratory apart from other basic requirements," he said.

Regarding the prospects of a bilateral series with Pakistan, Dalmiya said the issue was not security but of getting a 'go-ahead' signal.

"Once the two governments decide to let their teams play, security will be taken care of. I am optimistic about an India-Pakistan series in the near future," said Dalmiya.

Dalmiya also said that the working committee had decided to put on hold proposals of some other cricket series.

"The ICC has proposed a series between the World one-day champion and a Rest of the World XI as well as one between the World Test champion side against a Rest of the World XI in 2005.