Hope others will follow Sharad Pawar: Surinder Khanna

Welcoming politician Sharad Pawar's decision to step down from the post of Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) president, former Indian cricketer Surinder Khanna hopes other members of state associations will follow suit.

"Better late than never. It is good a thing that he has stepped down from the post. And hope that many other members from state associations who have been sitting in the post for many years would follow the lead and step down immediately," Khanna told ANI.

The 60-year-old former Indian wicketkeeper further hoped that this would pave the way for Lodha reforms to "cleanse" the BCCI which is mired in corruption.

Pawar who was the former ICC and BCCI president, stepped down yesterday adhering to the norm of age-cap of 70 years prescribed by the Supreme Court appointed Justice R C Lodha-led committee.

Reacting to the development, MCA Joint Secretary V.P. Shetty said the managing committee will contemplate on the decision taken by Pawar.

"To respect the Supreme Court's decision, Sharad Pawar tendered his resignation to the managing committee. We will now see as to what we can do with it," he said.

In his letter to the MCA, Pawar said that he was "pained" by the word "lucrative", an observation by apex court to describe as to why people do not want to leave BCCI.

"While taking the decision, the Supreme Court has said officials should not be above 70 years of age and described these positions as lucrative which made me very sad. That is why I don't wish to work anymore," Pawar wrote in his resignation letter.

"In fact, the positions are filled through democratic processes. Since these appointments were happening through democratic means, I was happy to work in that position," he added.

"During my term as MCA president, I did not take any allowance nor got any financial benefit. I and my colleagues have given time and taken the entire responsibility for our work in the association. While building new facilities, we took care that the name of MCA will be taken with pride. The Supreme Court should have taken a note of this," he stated further in his letter.