When ICC's Pitch Consultant Andy Atkinson was addressing the media after his Wankhede Stadium visit to look after World Cup preparations, one man made a quiet exit from the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) office.

Daljit Singh, the Mohali curator, who was recently sacked as BCCI's chief curator for the Feroz Shah Kotla fiasco, had just ended his meeting which involved Atkinson, MCA curator Sudhir Naik and top MCA officials.

"We have roped in Daljit to prepare the new wicket at the Wankhede Stadium ahead of the World Cup," said MCA treasurer Prof Ratnakar Shetty.

The veteran curator is delighted to prepare "two wickets for the World Cup" and more so, to work closely with Naik, his former teammate.

"We played for Tatas for a long time and share a good rapport. I am thrilled to work with him again. I am sure with the kind of effort the MCA is putting in, we will see a fitting finale to the grand event next year," Daljit told MiD DAY.

Does the Wankhede assignment vindicate his credibility despite the Kotla blemish? "Let me reiterate that I had no role to play in preparing the Kotla wicket for the India vs Sri Lanka one-day international (in December)," Daljit said.

Meanwhile, MCA joint secretary Lalchand Rajput said Atkinson was satisfied with MCA's plan of action ahead of the World Cup. He is expected to visit Wankhede next in April.