Death of Wankhede Stadium’s security-in-charge leaves MCA shell shocked

Abdul Baig

On Saturday, for the first time in 11 years, a slim, tall and popular man, who answered to the name of Abdul Baig, was neither at the Polly Umrigar Gate nor the Vinoo Mankad Gate of the Wankhede Stadium. Baig, 69, passed away after a massive heart attack on Friday morning at his residence while he was about to leave for the MCA office to oversee security arrangements on the eve of the Delhi Capitals v Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL-15 clash.

The death of the retired ACP, Mumbai Police has left the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) management shell-shocked. "It is absolutely shocking. We met just the other day. I just cannot believe that Baig is not with us anymore," remarked CS Naik, the MCA's executive secretary, who earlier served as chief executive.

"I knew him since the 2011 World Cup. He was our stadium's security in-charge since then. He was a towering personality. I would fondly call him Mount Abu because he was tall and Abu was his first name. He will forever be remembered whenever any international or IPL match takes place at the Wankhede Stadium. I will forever remember him as my friend and well-wisher. He was honest, sincere and very hard working. With him in charge, we would never worry about security-related arrangements here," Naik added.

MCA treasurer Jagdish Achrekar was also gutted. "He was an excellent human being. He was always jovial while undertaking the mammoth task of handling security at the Wankhede with utmost ease. He was always cool. He was a link between the MCA, the private security and the police. MCA has lost a gentleman who has worked with tremendous passion," Achrekar stressed.