Sandeep Patil, Amol Kale face off for president’s post at MCA elections

Sandeep Patil (left) and Amol Kale

It's a face-off between former India batting star Sandeep Patil and incumbent MCA vice-president Amol Kale for the president's post in the October 20 Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) elections. Patil represents Mumbai Cricket Group (name changed at the last minute after Sharad Pawar merged with Ashish Shelar's panel) in his quest to become MCA's first Test cricketer president since Madhav Mantri in the late 1980s.

Pawar's so-called about turn came as a rude shock to Patil's team who were till then campaigning under the NCP chief's name. Kale is a childhood buddy of Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. There will be no contest for the vice-president's post as all candidates withdrew on Friday - the last day for withdrawals. Once the elected body is in place, an election will take place for the VP's post.

Also Read: U-19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy: Musheer stars for Mumbai

Meanwhile, there is a three-way battle for secretary's post between Ajinkya Naik, the incumbent Apex Council member, Mayank Khandwala, former MCA treasurer, and Neil Savant. Former Mumbai cop and ex-Managing Committee member, Deepak Patil has been elected unopposed for the joint secretary's post. Jagdish Achrekar will aim for a second consecutive stint as treasurer, but he will have to battle it out against Sanjeev Khanolkar and Arman Mallick, ex-Managing Committee member.

There are 23 candidates in the fray for nine Apex Council seats. Political leaders like Jitendra Awhad (NCP) and Milind Narvekar (PA to Uddhav Thackeray) have filed their nominations for the Apex Council. Vihang Sarnaik, the current Apex Council member, has been elected unopposed as chairman of the Mumbai T20 League Governing Council. However, there will be a contest between Maulik Merchant and Ganesh Iyer, former Managing Committee member, for a berth in the League's Governing Council.

A total of 356 members (as per the list declared by the MCA) will vote on October 20 - 211 maidan clubs, 34 schools and colleges, 68 office clubs and 43 former international cricketers. With the BCCI getting a 1983 World Cupper in Roger Binny as its next president, all eyes will be on his teammate Patil in the MCA polls.

Gavaskar, Tendulkar cannot cast vote

Legendary Indian cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar are among the eight ineligible voters from the former international cricketers category for failing to submit their voter's identity cards to the election officer JS Saharia. Ajit Agarkar, Avishkar Salvi, Paras Mhambrey, Sanjay Manjrekar, Vinod Kambli and Wasim Jaffer are the others on that list.

Also Read: Scottish boys beat Bosco to win U-12 football title