MUMBAI: The Mumbai Cricket Association will inaugurate the stands named after India’s ODI captain Rohit Sharma, former India captain Ajit Wadekar, and ex-ICC, BCCI and MCA chief Sharad Pawar on May 16, MCA president informed while inviting reporters for the grand event on 4 pm that day. The program was initially supposed to take place on May 13, but had to be postponed due to the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. The event will also include the dedication of the MCA Office Lounge in memory of the association’s former president Amol Kale.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!In its 86th Annual General Meeting on April 15, the MCA had decided to name stands after Rohit, Wadekar, and Pawar. 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.Who’s that IPL player?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 significant overseas wins that marked a turning point in Indian cricket’s international journey. Wadekar represented India in 37 Test matches and two One Day Internationals between 1966 and 1974. He played 237 first-class matches. His contribution to Indian cricket remains legendary. He passed away in August 2018 at the age of 77.
The Grand Stand Level 3 will be named as the Pawar Stand, as the Pawar, 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.
