MUMBAI: In a significant development, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), in its 86th Annual General Meeting on Tuesday decided to name stands after India's Test & ODI captain Rohit Sharma , former India captain Ajit Wadekar , and ex-ICC, BCCI and MCA chief Sharad Pawar .
As per a proposal initially put forward by MCA's Apex Council member Milind Narvekar and seconded by another MCA Apex Council member Jitendra Awhad, the Divecha Pavilion Level 3 stand will be named after Rohit, who led India to the T20 World Cup title last year in USA & West Indies and the ICC Champions Trophy in UAE in Feb-March.
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The Grand Stand Level 4 will be named as the Ajit Wadekar Stand, after the ex-India captain, who captained India to maiden test series victories in West Indies and England in 1971.
The Grand Stand Level 3 will be named as the Pawar Stand, as the NCP supremo, who is regarded as the MCA's 'mentor,' is widely respected for having a highly successful tenure as the MCA president from 2001 to 2013, and then from 2013-16, during which the association hosted the 2011 World Cup final at the revamped Wankhede Stadium.
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Speaking on the occasion, MCA president Ajinkya Naik said: "Today’s decisions reflect our deep respect for the pillars of Mumbai cricket and our determination to build an even stronger future. These stands and this lounge shall forever echo the legacy of those who built Mumbai’s cricketing spirit — brick by brick, run by run."
"The MCA remains committed to preserving the legacy of stalwarts who have made invaluable contributions to the sport while continuing its mission of cricketing excellence," MCA secretary Abhay Hadap said in a statement.
"It's an excellent piece of news for our family. It's a long-awaited and fitting tribute," Wadekar's son Prasad Wadekar told TOI.
On March 20, soon after receiving the 'Lifetime Achievement Award for Administration' at the MCA's annual prize distribution function at the Sharad Pawar Indoor Academy Ground in BKC, veteran administrator Prof Ratnakar Shetty had urged the MCA to name at least something at the Wankhede Stadium after Wadekar and not ‘forget him.’
Shetty, who served as an office-bearer at the MCA and then as a senior staffer at the BCCI, said in his speech, " I have one request to make, please don't forget Ajit Wadekar. He deserves to be named at the Wankhede Stadium. He was one of the greatest India captains and I think it’s time that we give that honour to him also.”
In Feb 2022, Shetty had requested the MCA to name the Grandstand above the ‘President’s Box’ at the Wankhede Stadium after Wadekar, who passed away in 2018. At that time, the widow of the former India captain, Rekha Ajit Wadekar, had urged the MCA to name the association’s upcoming museum after her husband.
MCA to honour ex-prez Amol Kale too
The MCA has also decided to name a lounge at the Wankhede after its former president Amol Kale, who passed away in 2024 in New York. "Further, in a heartfelt tribute to Late Shri Amol Kale, the match day office at the MCA Pavilion will now be known as the MCA Office Lounge in memory of Shri Amol Kale," the MCA informed in a release.
In a statement, the MCA said, "The MCA successfully convened its 86th Annual General Meeting today, reaffirming its dedication to the growth and development of cricket in Mumbai. A major highlight of the meeting was the decision to increase the corpus for affiliated clubs to Rs. 75 crores, with a forward-looking plan to enhance it to Rs. 100 crores in the coming years. This significant move is aimed at strengthening grassroots infrastructure and supporting the long-term growth of cricket across the city.
As per a proposal initially put forward by MCA's Apex Council member Milind Narvekar and seconded by another MCA Apex Council member Jitendra Awhad, the Divecha Pavilion Level 3 stand will be named after Rohit, who led India to the T20 World Cup title last year in USA & West Indies and the ICC Champions Trophy in UAE in Feb-March.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
The Grand Stand Level 4 will be named as the Ajit Wadekar Stand, after the ex-India captain, who captained India to maiden test series victories in West Indies and England in 1971.
The Grand Stand Level 3 will be named as the Pawar Stand, as the NCP supremo, who is regarded as the MCA's 'mentor,' is widely respected for having a highly successful tenure as the MCA president from 2001 to 2013, and then from 2013-16, during which the association hosted the 2011 World Cup final at the revamped Wankhede Stadium.
Who's that IPL player?
Speaking on the occasion, MCA president Ajinkya Naik said: "Today’s decisions reflect our deep respect for the pillars of Mumbai cricket and our determination to build an even stronger future. These stands and this lounge shall forever echo the legacy of those who built Mumbai’s cricketing spirit — brick by brick, run by run."
"The MCA remains committed to preserving the legacy of stalwarts who have made invaluable contributions to the sport while continuing its mission of cricketing excellence," MCA secretary Abhay Hadap said in a statement.
"It's an excellent piece of news for our family. It's a long-awaited and fitting tribute," Wadekar's son Prasad Wadekar told TOI.
On March 20, soon after receiving the 'Lifetime Achievement Award for Administration' at the MCA's annual prize distribution function at the Sharad Pawar Indoor Academy Ground in BKC, veteran administrator Prof Ratnakar Shetty had urged the MCA to name at least something at the Wankhede Stadium after Wadekar and not ‘forget him.’
Shetty, who served as an office-bearer at the MCA and then as a senior staffer at the BCCI, said in his speech, " I have one request to make, please don't forget Ajit Wadekar. He deserves to be named at the Wankhede Stadium. He was one of the greatest India captains and I think it’s time that we give that honour to him also.”
In Feb 2022, Shetty had requested the MCA to name the Grandstand above the ‘President’s Box’ at the Wankhede Stadium after Wadekar, who passed away in 2018. At that time, the widow of the former India captain, Rekha Ajit Wadekar, had urged the MCA to name the association’s upcoming museum after her husband.
MCA to honour ex-prez Amol Kale too
The MCA has also decided to name a lounge at the Wankhede after its former president Amol Kale, who passed away in 2024 in New York. "Further, in a heartfelt tribute to Late Shri Amol Kale, the match day office at the MCA Pavilion will now be known as the MCA Office Lounge in memory of Shri Amol Kale," the MCA informed in a release.
In a statement, the MCA said, "The MCA successfully convened its 86th Annual General Meeting today, reaffirming its dedication to the growth and development of cricket in Mumbai. A major highlight of the meeting was the decision to increase the corpus for affiliated clubs to Rs. 75 crores, with a forward-looking plan to enhance it to Rs. 100 crores in the coming years. This significant move is aimed at strengthening grassroots infrastructure and supporting the long-term growth of cricket across the city.
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