Uddhav Thackeray’s bouncer: Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar retired but Sharad Pawar refuses to

“Sachin (Tendulkar) retired, Sunil Gavaskar too left this game but our president still doesn’t want to retire. His score still remains the zero but he is again padded up,” Thackeray said. The MCA is scheduled to hold its biennial election on June 17 when Pawar-Bal Mahaddalkar group will take on Patil’s Cricket First group.

Thackeray also revealed that a few months back Patil had asked him to contest in the election but he had declined the offer. “We are always told not to mix sports and politics, always keep them separate but here politicians are taking things down. I remember the days when I would buy tickets to watch Ranji Trophy games; it was as good as the Indian team. I even went to watch Kanga League but see what has happened to Mumbai cricket. They have spoiled it,” he added.

Without naming the MCA president Pawar, the Sena chief said that they were only interested in club’s membership and that they want the piece of land not to run cricket but to run their dukaan.

Not supporting Congressman

“We have been accused of supporting a Congressmen (Patil’s father is Congress leader) but please see all the other side and you will come to know what is happening. We had built Dadoji Kondev Stadium in Thane and it’s been years since a single Ranji game has happened there. They are buying land from the government and they are marketing it. Club memberships are being sold. They wanted to do it in Thane too but we stopped it. Land is for cricket and not for their dukaan,” Thackeray said.

Pawar is contesting for MCA’s top post after 15 years – in the interim period he has won unopposed. MCA has 329 clubs which will vote on Wednesday evening.

Thackeray said that his group’s agenda will be to provide pitches to those clubs who don’t have it. They want to provide basic facilities at the ground. “I remember going to watch my son play at Azad Maidan, there were small-kids playing and there is no basic toilet facility too. We want to ensure that our cricketers will not face such kind of issues again. We are looking for next Sachin Tendulkar but first we need to sort down the issues which are hampering Mumbai cricket,” Thackeray, who owns a club and has voting rights in MCA.