TNCA snubs Mumbai for Buchi Babu

The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) has not extended the invitation to Mumbai Cricket Association to take part in this year’s Buchi Babu tournament that begins in Chennai this week. Consequently,the MCA will not be able to field a team in the prestigious tournament,which is a traditional warm-up to the domestic season.

Like every year,MCA was planning to send a team to Chennai this time as well. However,TNCA’s decision to reduce the number of teams from 14 to 10 meant that the decision to chop Mumbai off the list had to be taken. “Buchi Babu is an invitational tournament and every year we receive invitation from TNCA to take part in their two day tournament. This year when invite didn’t come,I spoke to TNCA secretary Kasi Viswanathan and he said their association has decided to reduce state teams and hence Mumbai was ignored,” MCA joint-secretary PV Shetty told The Indian Express.

It must be recalled that Mumbai opted out of the Karnataka State Cricket Association-hosted Safi Darashah invitational tournament after the organisers demanded Rs 1 lakh as entry fees for the four-day competition. MCA’s senior selection committee had prepared a probables list comprising young Mumbai players who have the potential to represent India. MCA officials believe these two tournaments would have helped them to pick a Ranji Trophy squad. “We we have more tours in the pipeline and will be sending a team to Nagpur in coming days. Buchi Babu tournament has always helped our youngsters but we can’t do anything as its TNCA’s decision,” Shetty added.

When contacted,Viswanathan was unavailable for comment.