MCA's bowling scheme runs into rough weather

Mumbai Cricket Association's ongoing bowling scheme with the IDBI Federal Life Insurance has run into rough weather with the association refusing to entertain a third party as part of the deal

Mumbai Cricket Association's ongoing bowling scheme with the IDBI Federal Life Insurance has run into rough weather with the association refusing to entertain a third party as part of the deal.

"We have written to Vignesh Shahane (CEO of IDBI Federal Life Insurance) after our managing committee meeting three weeks ago that we would deal directly with his company and not through any third party as is the case now," said MCA's joint secretary, Unmesh Khanvilkar.

Khanvilkar explained that currently IDBI Federal Life Insurance has a deal with MCA through Excellence in Cricket (EIC), but wanted a direct association as the scheme was called MCA-IDBI Federal Life Insurance Bowling Foundation with former Australian fast bowler, Jeff Thomson, as its head coach.

"The ball is in his (Shahane's) court. We are still awaiting a reply to our letter," the MCA official told PTI. The scheme kicked off last September and recently two Mumbai pace bowlers had a training stint in Australia arranged through the scheme.

Interestingly MCA officials, barring a few, were conspicuously absent during the announcement of the scheme last year. Thomson has put the Mumbai bowlers through the paces in October last before the commencement of the domestic season and then returned for his second stint in May at the
conclusion of the season.

The item is expected to figure in the MCA's managing committee meeting on July 24 along with discussions on the ramifications of the recent Supreme Court verdict upholding most of the recommendations of the Justice Lodha committee's report on reforms in BCCI and its affiliates.

"The verdict is not on the agenda and would be taken up as part of any other topic with the permission of the chair (MCA president Sharad Pawar)," said Khanvilkar.

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