‘Maidan’ win for Ajinkya Naik

For years now the willow game has returned to the mind space of Mumbai cricket lovers in July what with the Kanga League generally being scheduled to begin this month in many of the years gone byItrsquos a tournament that kicks off the Mumbai cricket season and club torchbearers are at their busiest at this time of the yearHence it seemed apt that the Mumbai Cricket Associationrsquos MCA newly elected president Ajinkya Naik dedicated his 107vote win over current vicepresident Sanjay Naik to all the maidan club and gymkhana secretaries on TuesdaySanjay gets 114 votesAjinkya 37 who was MCA secretary in the late president Amol Kalersquos regime Kale died of a cardiac arrest in America on June 10 secured 221 votes out of the 335 who turned up for the election at Wankhede Stadium Sanjay who was backed by BJP leader and BCCI treasurer Ashish Shelar group got 114 votes ldquoThis is a victory for maidan cricket maidan club secretaries schools and college gymkhana secretaries and former cricketers I am only their representative Amolji showed us purpose and motivation I along with the Apex Council will try and carry his legacy forwardrdquo Ajinkya said after his winOnesided victory expectedWhen midday asked Ajinkya if he had expected such a onesided victory he said ldquoIt was expected but I was keeping quiet till the result was official A lot of unseen powers in the game were backing me But definitely our mentor has been Sharad Pawar sir He has been backing merdquoAs MCA president now Ajinkya wants to help Mumbai cricketers get proper jobs ldquoWe started the MCA Knowledge Centre last month Now I plan to present employment opportunities to young cricketers We will plan a career fair wherein we will invite government organisations and corporates while we as the MCA Apex Council will request HR departments to offer permanent jobs to our players Most cricketers are employed on a contractual basis so our priority is to secure their livingrdquo remarked AjinkyaAlso ReadCricketers make their presence felt at MCA electionsMeanwhile Shelar in a statement congratulated Ajinkya ldquoThis was a friendly contest in which Ajinkya emerged victorious Congratulations to him From hereon we will all work towards the betterment of the association He Ajinkya will have my backing Our focus will be on developing Mumbai players and providing them the best of facilities Our candidate Sanjay fought with the right sporting spirit I will urge him to work with everyone for our family the cricket communityrdquo said ShelarWhile Sanjay will remain the vicepresident the MCA will conduct another election in the next 45 days to elect a new secretary