Agarkar back in MCA fold

The row between Ajit Agarkar and the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has finally ended after the veteran cricketer made himself available for selection. The former India pacer, who returned home on the morning of November's Ranji Trophy league match against Orissa in Cuttack after not making the playing XI, was included in the list of 25 probables in the West Zone one-day team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.


Ajit Agarkar

MCA bigwigsu00a0-- vice-president Prof Ratnakar Shetty, joint secretary Nitin Dalal and chairman of selectors Milind Rege met Agarkar on Monday to sort out the issue.

Dalal said the association was delighted to welcome Agarkar back in to the fold. "We are happy that Ajit is back. He is now available for selection after we had a meeting with him," said Dalal without revealing details of the meeting.

Agarkar was annoyed at the treatment meted out to him and was not part of the Mumbai squad after the Cuttack fiasco. His services were particularly missed in the recent Ranji Trophy semi-final against Tamil Nadu where Mumbai lacked experience in the pace department. If selected, the Vijay Hazare Trophy would provide sufficient match practice for Agarkar, who will play for the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Meanwhile, the Mumbai selectors are expected to pick the new skipper (following Wasim Jaffer's resignation)u00a0 on February 15. According to sources, Ajinkya Rahane was the first choice, but the India batsman is not too keen on leading the team. In this case, former international Ramesh Powar is likely to get the nod.