08 January,2009 07:31 AM IST | | Amol Karhadkar
Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) started the trend of offering a junket to its members and representatives to support their team during the Ranji Trophy final last year. Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) was set to do the same this year. But Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) doesn't seem to be in a mood to send a troupe for Mumbai's Ranji final against Uttar Pradesh to be played in Hyderabad from Monday.
When Delhi made it to last year's final, their first after 11 years, the DDCA sent a group of 37 people, which included everyone from the Feroze Shah Kotla to the Sports Committee members, to "boost their team's morale" during their final against Uttar Pradesh in Mumbai. Incidentally, the DDCA elections were slated to be held shortly after the final, but let's not get into DDCA politics for the time being.
Similarly, the TNCA had planned an all-expense paid trip to almost 50 of their members for next week's Ranji Trophy final. Unfortunately, Tamil Nadu fielders dropped a plethora of catches against UP, which not only spoilt their entry into the final after five years but floundered the association's plans.
But the MCA is not really planning anything really big like the other state bodies.
"For us, a Ranji Trophy final appearance is not at all rare, like it is for most of the other associations," MCA joint secretary Hemant Waingankar told MiD DAY yesterday.
"So though we will have some of us to support our team in Hyderabad, like selector Shishir Hattangadi was in Chennai for the semi-final, we will not have a big party during the final."
Obviously Waingankar's statement does make sense since Mumbai have already played 41 finals, winning a whopping 37 of them.
Mind you, there are four days left before the final to get underway.
And the wheels can spin any moment. Watch this space.
