MCA’s vice-president Amol Kale had requested the association’s president Dr Vijay Patil (as reported in mid-day on March 30) to postpone all tournaments including the Dr HD Kanga knockouts.
Amol Kale and Abhay Hadap
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has decided to continue hosting tournaments despite the city witnessing a spike in COVID-19 cases.
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MCA’s vice-president Amol Kale had requested the association’s president Dr Vijay Patil (as reported in mid-day on March 30) to postpone all tournaments including the Dr HD Kanga knockouts.
Matches galore
The MCA is set to conduct 50 Kanga knockout matches at various maidans today. “We are going as per schedule. Till the government issues further guidelines, we will continue. Even though Bombay Gymkhana is closed [due to the pandemic], they will be playing a match tomorrow [on Sunday v Combined CC] at their ground,” MCA’s tournament coordinator Abhay Hadap told mid-day on Saturday.
The 45-over Kanga knockouts will see 137 teams in action. Hadap added: Meanwhile, Kale appeared unimpressed by the MCA’s business-as-usual attitude. “Ideally, MCA has to postpone all tournaments, but I don’t know how they can come to the conclusion that they should continue,” Kale said.
Dadar Union win
Meanwhile, riding on a 199-run opening stand between Onkar Jadhav (118 not out) and Divyaansh Saxena’s (91), Dadar Union Sporting Club chased down Sainath SC’s 247-8 in the 35th over, losing only three wickets in the Young Comrade Shield at the Sachin Tendulkar Gymkhana in Kandivli.
Mumbai wicketkeeper-batsman Hardik Tamore, who led Dadar Union, said: “It is better to play matches by taking all precautions. What can we do by staying home? However, I think cricketers below the age of 16 should avoid travelling and stay home for their own safety.”