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Journalism of Courage
JAN 16: For the voters who had not made up their mind as yet as to whom to vote for in the upcoming Mumbai Cricket Association’s biennial elections, Monday’s meeting organised by the Sports Journalists Association of Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium must have proved quite handy. The representatives of all three groups — Ajit Wadekar, Manohar Joshi and Sharad Pawar group — contesting the elections spoke on what their respective groups intended to do, if elected, for Mumbai cricket.
Three groups are contesting the elections for various posts in the Mumbai Cricket Association to be held on January 19. At the meeting, Pravin Barve (contesting for vice-president’s post) spoke for Manohar Joshi’s group. Current Joint secretary and aspirant for yet another term in office, Prof. Ratnakar Shetty spoke for Ajit Wadekar’s group while Shripad Halbe represented Sharad Pawar’s group. He is contesting for a Managing Committee member’s slot.
While all group representatives highlighted their focus on improving junior cricket and the state of maidans, the Wadekar-Joshi group was unanimous in the need for streamlining the number of tournaments. Prof. Shetty also recommended alternating the tournaments every year as a viable solution.
Barve felt that a second string team for Mumbai should be composed and the stadiums improved. He also felt that an indoor school was a must.
Prof. Shetty felt that different coaches for various levels of junior cricket tournaments created confusion and hence a director should be appointed to co-ordinate coaching. Also an expert committee of four or five cricketers should be appointed to comment on technical matters, team selection and appointment of coaches and selectors for the same, he felt. An interesting point made was that the group believed in setting up nodal centres for cricket in places like Boisar, Vasai, Thane and Bhiwandi. This would help in saving a lot of money and energy in bringing the players to the over-burdened grounds in the metro.
The Pawar group concentrated on aspects of image-building, marketing and promotion and insurance apart from improvement of junior cricket. Shripad Halbe said that there was need to improve the image of the Association and claimed they already had envisaged a total project for that. Sponsorships and curtailing wasteful expenditure would generate the requisite revenue for that, felt the group. The group also recommended insurance and a players’ fund for injured cricketers.
An interesting point on the Pawar group’s agenda was making Mumbai Cricket Association a primary body with all assets and funds in its name. In the past, there have been disputes between the MCA and the adjoining Garware Club House over different properties in the premises. The Garware Club House — of which Sharad Pawar is the president — hosts features like accomodation rooms, swimming pool and gymnasium for which the Association has felt the need of, especially if it plans to host the zonal academy of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
