Indore, June 27: Artificial intelligence has already transformed the way people work, shop and communicate. Now, the fast-evolving technology is preparing to make its mark on cricket, with the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) set to use AI to assist in player selection and streamline its administration.
In what could be a pioneering move in cricket governance, the MPCA plans to introduce an AI-driven system that will analyse player performances and recommend selections based purely on data, while leaving the final decision in the hands of selectors.
The initiative is aimed at making the selection process more transparent and reducing the possibility of bias.
“AI will recommend players for selection based on their performances, but the selectors will continue to have the final say,” MPCA president Mahanaaryaman Scindia said.The system will evaluate a player’s statistics, including runs scored, wickets taken and other performance metrics, before generating recommendations.
If selectors choose to include or exclude a player for reasons beyond the available data, they will be required to record the rationale behind their decision, adding another layer of accountability.
However, the technology’s role will extend well beyond the cricket field.
The MPCA also plans to deploy AI for tasks such as grant applications from district and divisional cricket units, document verification, expenditure tracking and financial management, bringing multiple administrative functions onto a single digital platform.
The AI-powered model is currently being tested during the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL). If the trial proves successful, it will be rolled out across the state’s district and divisional cricket associations ahead of the new domestic season in September.Scindia believes the initiative could make the MPCA the first cricket organisation in the world to implement AI on such a large scale in sports administration.
To develop the system, the association has partnered with AI start-up Emergent. According to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mukund Jha, the project has been under development for the past six months with the objective of digitising and integrating the association’s administrative processes.
While AI is unlikely to replace the experienced eye of a selector anytime soon, it appears that the technology is set to become cricket’s newest teammate, offering data-driven insights in a sport where every run, wicket and decision counts. (PTI)
