India batting great Dilip Vengsarkar displays high optimism level in his quest to jump from vice-president to president of the Sharad Pawar-headed Mumbai Cricket Association

Twenty-five summers ago, Dilip Vengsarkar was on the threshold of a career high ufffd the first man to score three consecutive Test hundreds against England at Lord's which he achieved on June 7, 1986.


Sticking His Head Out: Dilip Vengsarkar smiles through a curtain of the
Wankhede Stadium dressing room during a Mumbai vs Karnataka Ranji
Trophy gamein 2007.
PIC/ATUL KAMBLE

The 55-year-old former India captain would like to think he is on the cusp of cricket administrative glory as he sets out to become the second Test cricketer (after Madhav Mantri) to head the Mumbai Cricket Association after it moved to the Wankhede Stadium.

There is a fat chance that MCA vice-president Vengsarkar could contest against current president Sharad Pawar, who made an entry into Mumbai cricket politics in 2001.

The elections may be held in June. Former Maharashtra chief ministers Narayan Rane and Vilasrao Deshmukh are reported to be in the fray for the MCA president's post too. Vengsarkar though, stayed away from commenting on his possible opposition.

Excerpts from an interview:

Will you be contesting against Sharad Pawar?
All I can say at the moment is that I'm contesting for the president's post. I don't know whether Mr Pawar is
contesting.

My ambitions centre around the welfare of cricket in Mumbai. If I'm seeking to become MCA president, it doesn't mean I'm in conflict with anyone.