Lalchand Rajput to head CIC

While the parent body BCCI found a IPL title sponsor, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) formed its Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC) with three former India players Lalchand Rajput, Raju Kulkarni and Sameer Dighe as its members.

In the meeting held here on Tuesday, it was decided that Rajput will head the committee, according to one of the MCA Apex Council member, who was one of the member attending the Apex Council meeting.

"We have decided to form the CIC with three former cricketers with Rajput heading it," accordignt to the member.

He also said that a special committee has been formed to oversee the formation of a cricket museum inside the Wankhede stadium.

"This committee comprises President Vijay Patil, former BCCI office-bearers Ravi Sawant, Prof Ratnakar Shetty, Naveen Shetty, senior journalist Clayton Murzello, and Devendra Prabhudessai," the member said.

He also said that the association has decided to form a special committee with regards to celebrating the golden jubilee of Test debut of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar.

Cricketer Ankit Chavan had requested MCA to take up the issue of his life ban for his alleged involvement in IPL spot fixing case with BCCI.

However, MCA made it clear it would not interfere in the matter, another Apex Council member said.

Cricket in the megacity has come to a grinding halt since the outbreak of COVID-19 and Mumbai is one of the worst affected cities in the country.

According to the official, MCA will form a three-member committee, which will come out with a Standard Operating Procedures for resumption of cricket and then forward it to the Maharashtra government for a final approval.

Meanwhile, MCA Apex Council member Ajinkya Naik has given a proposal to MCA to devote a permanent seat to recently-retired Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the stand of the Wankhede Stadium where he had hit the World Cup-winning six in 2011. It is understood that MCA President is keen for the project.