Newly elected Mumbai Cricket Association president Vilasrao Deshmukh has assured that he will give all his time and experience in administration for the welfare of the game in the metropolis and neighbouring Thane.

In the lead up to the MCA polls, Deshmukh’s rivals had pointed out that he had attended only two meeting during his tenure as vice-president.

“I have already said this time I will not give people any chance to complain against me,” Deshmukh told reporters after the election results were announced.

Deshmukh, an influential leader Congress leader from the state, is currently part of the Union cabinet heading the science & technology ministry with additional charge of earth sciences.

“This is a huge responsibility, Mr Sharad Pawar has given direction to this organisation for the past 10 years and has done a lot of good work so I have challenges ahead,” acknowledged Deshmukh.

As the head of MCA, Deshmukh has three priorities, one of them is to tackle administrative problems faced by maidans in Mumbai.

During the AGM, which was held after the polling ended, many MCA members had pointed out issues faced by them, from lack of toilet facilities to proper drainage systems. The members had pleaded that if Mumbai has to regain its lost glory in domestic cricket then Maidans have to be properly maintained.

“We have maidan clubs with more than 200 members. Our first priority will be to look into the problems faced by Maidans and we are hopeful that we will find ways in coming days to resolve these issues,” the former Maharashtra CM claimed.

“The second challenge is that in Thane and Mulund we don’t have big playgrounds so people who want to play don’t have that facility in those places. In coming days we will try to build new playgrounds and clubs in those areas,” added Deshmukh. “We will sit with the government and try to find plots to create infrastructure.”

Also on Deshmukh’s priority list is employment of Mumbai cricketers. Off late, the central public sector undertakings have stopped recruiting local talent. Deshmukh promised that he will work with Sharad Pawar in Delhi to find a solution.

“The third main issue is that the central public sector undertakings have stopped recruiting local cricketers because of which new cricketers are not getting any opportunity. So we will try to see to it that our cricketers start getting employment in PSU’s,” he held.

On queries about politicians entering sports association’s, Deshmukh retorted by saying that every citizen has a right to contest and the prerogative of electing them rests with members, referring to his 47 vote victory over opposing candidate and former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar.

“Everybody has a right to contest elections whether it is a politician or a cricketer or a businessman. Our job is to give better governance and take measures to improve the standard of cricket and cricketers.

“That matter is closed now, the members have clearly demonstrated that they don’t differentiate between the cricketer and politicians. Whatever is in the best interest of the association they have given the mandate.”

He also stated that the MCA president does not need to be available full-time since the policies are implemented by the core team including vice-president, joint-secretary and treasurer besides other committee members.

“This post requires very less time (emphasis ours). (All) we have to do is give administrative directions which can be implemented by vice-president, joint-secretary and treasurer and all other members. We are a team and I am the captain. Each member of the team has to play his role.”

He also pointed out that cricketers who want to be part of MCA can work with the cricket improvement committee, which takes decisions on important cricketing matters. Sunil Gavaskar was the chief of the CIC until he resigned some months ago, stating he was not able to dedicate as much time as needed.

“Our cricket improvement committee has all top cricketers so they have to think about cricket, we will give them whatever assistance we can in fulfilling that,” Deshmukh averred.

He also said he has no problems working with election rival Dilip Vengsarkar and said he would want him to be a part of the CIC.

“He had been a part of CIC for many years, we would want him to give more time to CIC so that we can produce better cricketers and raise the standard of game in Test and ODI cricket,” Deshmukh said.

On the Mumbai Premier League, which was postponed last year due to crowded international calendar, particularly with the World Cup and IPL playing out back-to-back, Deshmukh said he needs to go through the details.

“Till I understand everything properly it is difficult to say anything about that today. Whatever, promises we have made to our members it is our duty to fulfil it first.”

What Deshmukh conveniently chose to ignore of course was the fact that seeing as he had made the step up from MCA vice-president to president, he should have been in the know of such issues. After all he was not coming in as a fresh new face n the association's affairs. 

Clearly,  Deshmukh has many promises to keep and much ground to cover before he can convince the sceptics that his assurances are merely empty rhetoric.