Mannava Sri Kanaka Venkata Prasad, commonly known as M. S. K. Prasad, is a former Indian cricketer who played as a wicket-keeper-batsman for the India national cricket team. He represented India in Test and One Day International (ODI) cricket during the late 1990s and went on to serve in administrative roles in Indian cricket, most notably as the chairman of the senior men's selection committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
| Full name | Mannava Sri Kanaka Venkata Prasad |
|---|---|
| Known as | M. S. K. Prasad |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Role | Wicket-keeper-batsman |
| Batting style | Right-handed |
| Domestic team | Andhra |
| National team | India |
| Formats played | Test, ODI, First-class, List A |
| Later role | Chairman, BCCI Senior Men's Selection Committee |
Prasad hails from Andhra Pradesh and developed his cricket through the state's domestic structure. He represented Andhra in the Ranji Trophy and other domestic tournaments, where his glovework and lower-order batting earned him recognition at the national level.
Prasad made his international debut for India in the late 1990s, a period during which the team experimented with several wicket-keeping options alongside Nayan Mongia. He played a small number of Test matches and ODIs for India, primarily as a specialist wicket-keeper. His international appearances were limited, and he subsequently returned to focus on domestic cricket with Andhra.
At the domestic level, Prasad had a long association with Andhra cricket, contributing as a senior wicket-keeper-batsman over multiple seasons. He featured in first-class and List A cricket through the 1990s and into the 2000s.
After retiring from playing, Prasad transitioned into cricket administration. He was appointed to the BCCI's senior men's selection committee and later served as its chairman. During his tenure as chief selector, the committee was responsible for picking India's squads across formats, including for ICC events and bilateral series. His term coincided with a period of leadership continuity under captain Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri, and oversaw the selection of squads such as the one that featured in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup held in England and Wales.
Although his playing career at the international level was brief, Prasad's contribution to Indian cricket is significant for two reasons: his long-standing role as a senior wicket-keeper in the Andhra domestic side, and his subsequent influence as chief national selector, where he was involved in identifying and grooming players for the senior India team.