MCA summer trials: It's wet, so kids can't sweat

Arjun Tendulkar

Aspiring U-19 cricketer Arjun Tendulkar walks away from the MIG Cricket Club ground in Bandra East yesterday after a wet ground forced the cancellation of Day One of the MCA trials. Pic/Subodh Mayure

They came and left, shaking their heads in amazement. As many as 200 U-16 and U-19 cricketers arrived at the MIG Cricket Club ground in Bandra (East) at 6:45 am for Day One of the Mumbai Cricket Association's summer vacation trials yesterday, but were forced to return home as the ground and pitches were wet.

Monday is the day when grounds all over Mumbai are watered, so it's an off-day for all coaching activities. This is a known fact. Yet, the MCA decided to kick off this year's scheme on a Monday.

One of the numerous players at the Bandra venue was Sachin Tendulkar's son Arjun, a Mumbai U-16 player, now an U-19 aspirant. MIG Cricket Club secretary Amit Dani told mid-day that his club had informed the MCA a week ago that the ground would not be available on Monday due to maintenance. For Rajendra Talpade, the MCA-appointed coach at MIG Cricket Club U-19 centre, it was a unique experience. "I have been involved in summer vacation coaching for the last 20 years, but for the first time I witnessed players going home due to wet conditions," Talpade told mid-day yesterday.

A similar situation was experienced at Jolly Gymkhana centre in Ghatkopar, where former Mumbai fast bowler Vishal Mahadik was scheduled to kick off his U-19 selection trials. "As the pitches were not ready, I took down names of the boys alongwith details of their cricketing skills," said Mahadik. MCA Joint Secretaries Dr PV Shetty and Dr Unmesh Khanvilkar did not respond to mid-day's calls.