U-19 selection event organisers upset with delay

MUMBAI: The lack of swift decision-making has landed the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) in a soup this season, and it seems there’s no end to it.

Now, the organisers of the U-19 Manohar Savant Selection Tournament, from which Mumbai’s U-19 team to participate in the U-19 Vinoo Mankad one-day tourney is selected, have complained about the delay in conducting their event. The BCCI last month announced that it will conduct the Mankad Trophy, keeping in mind the U-19 World Cup which be held in January 2022.

In a mail addressed to MCA president Vijay Patil, Neel Savant—representative of the Aarey CC who organise Manohar Savant tournament—stated: “It’s a shame that in spite of Vinoo Mankad U-19 tournament being declared by BCCI, MCA has not yet appointed the U-19 selectors and coaches or declared the dates for the U-19 selection tournament.

“In spite of two hard copies of letters addressed to the secretary, two emails, multiple phone calls and in-person conversations (with MCA) for declaring dates, we have not received any written communication regarding the dates,” the mail added.

What has peeved them is that MCA has given permission to three other under-19 club tournaments—one each in Mumbai, Thane and Vasai-virar.

An MCA official said the tournament will be held before the inter-state U-19 tournament. “The teams for the Manohar Savant tournament are selected from the summer camps but this time no camp has taken place. Also, most of the prospective Mumbai U-19 players will play in the three approved tournaments which will help to select the teams for the Savant tournament. Also, selectors and coach would have been appointed by that time. We have no intention to delay the tournament, they should show some patience,” the official said.