MUMBAI: There are now only two candidates for the post of the next president of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) after Indian National Congress Mumbai unit vice-president Bhushan Patil withdrew from the election on Tuesday, the last day for withdrawal of nominations. MCA general secretary Ajinkya Naik will be contesting against vice-president Sanjay Naik for the post of MCA president. Following the untimely demise of Amol Kale in New York on June 10, the MCA will hold its presidential elections on July 23 at the Wankhede Stadium. “I remain committed to working for the MCA, its clubs and its cricketers in collaboration with the Apex Council to carry forward the legacy of the late Mr. Kale. You will see a difference in the MCA administration from 2022 to date compared to 2019 to 2022. In the last 20 months, we have won eight titles including the Ranji Trophy. As an administrator, I have tried to provide the right environment and culture for cricketing excellence and transparency in the system. Certain processes were set up and I ensured that all coaches, players and other stakeholders followed them,” Ajinkha told TOI. “I have been working with the MCA since 2015. I was in the marketing committee, then became a member of the Supreme Council, now I am the secretary and am currently standing for the president election. You keep moving up levels, roles change but cricket is general. I work for cricket,” Ajinkha said at a press conference at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday. Naik said, “Presidential elections are not a joyous occasion. The vote is a sad one following Kale’s sudden demise. I am sure the election will be contested on merit. The plan is to figure out how to execute the plan and how to carry on the legacy of Kale and Mumbai cricket.” TOI had reported in its edition dated July 6 that Ajinkya Naik was being considered as a likely candidate for the post of MCA president. Significantly, it was former India women’s national team captain Diana Edulji who suggested Ajinkya’s nomination. “I feel I am supporting the right candidate. Kale and Ajinkya were a very good combination as president and secretary. He knows what Mumbai cricket wants. I am sure he can carry on the legacy of MCA and maybe enhance Kale’s legacy or create his own legacy,” Edulji said. Ajinkya Naik’s press conference on Tuesday was attended by Edulji and MCA cricket advisor and former Mumbai captain Milind Rege. Ajinkha, who pitches himself as someone who is keen on developing cricket infrastructure, said, “There is no infrastructure to give you an outdoor feel during the monsoon season. Instead of going elsewhere, the vision is to have our own academy within the MMR jurisdiction in Mumbai, where you can have an outdoor feel. I have seen many facilities in the UK, Australia and we have one in Ghansoli too.” Similarly, we should have a stadium with real grass and a real pitch. What we have now is a grass pitch.” On the reason for withdrawing his candidature, Patil said, “Sanjay and Ajinkha are MCA office-bearers and will be in a cooling off period for the next MCA elections next year, so senior leader (Maharashtra Congress leader) Nana Patole has asked me to withdraw my candidature. I can contest then.”
