MCA panel ropes in Tendulkar as special invitee

The new Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC) of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Thursday roped in former batting great Sachin Tendulkar as a special invitee to attend its meeting and share valuable tips and views whenever he is available in the city.

"I spoke to Sachin (Tendulkar) today. He agreed to share his views about Mumbai cricket over time to time as and when he is in Mumbai. He will be the special invitee of the CIC and would attend meetings share valuable tips," CIC's newly-appointed chairman and former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar said at a press conference here.

Other members of CIC are former India Indian captain Ajit Wadekar, former India Test batsman Sanjay Manjrekar, ex-Test batsman and coach Pravin Amre, former India and Mumbai pacer Ajit Agarkar, domestic batsman Amol Muzumdar, former India women cricket Diana Eduljee and MCA managing committee member Deepak Patil.

Vengsarkar, who was also an ex-chief selector, said a new disciplinary committee would be formed under MCA and the body would be strict towards cricketers who break the rules.

"We will form a new disciplinary committee under MCA and the body would be strict towards cricketers who break the rules in the game of cricket, no player whether big or small will not be spared from punishment if found guilty,a he said.

The 59-year-old also said CIC will appoint coaches of Under-14, Under-16, Under-19, first class cricket.

He said the city's renowned Dr HD Kanga Memorial Cricket League will begin on August 2.

"Kanga League will start in August 2 and the last match will be played on October 25. The format will be same that is the old format," Vengsarkar said.