Cricket: Australia calling for Mumbai team

Mumbai cricketers and fans could be in for a treat. Australia’s top domestic side, New South Wales, which owns 45 Sheffield Shield titles, is keen to have a Twenty20 tourney against Mumbai every year, both on home and away basis.

New South Wales want the 39-time Ranji Trophy champions to tour Sydney. Australia’s domestic giants also intend to travel to Mumbai the following year for a return series. The idea is to give a different exposure to their cricketers.

NSW and Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) are yet to finalise the dates. In all likelihood, the tournament will be organised somewhere between the end of September or early October. It will be scheduled in a way so as not to interfere with India’s cramped domestic calendar.

DNA has learnt that the trophy will be named after former Australian captain Mark Taylor and Sachin Tendulkar. An MCA official said, “When Mumbai travel to Sydney they will play for Mark Taylor, while the Mumbai leg of the tournament will be called the Sachin Tendulkar Trophy. However, we are yet to get in touch with Tendulkar.”

MCA joint secretary Nitin Dalal said, “It will be a good opportunity for young Mumbai cricketers. We have got the proposal from NSW and we are considering it.”  The last time Mumbai toured Australia was in 2000-01 for the Champions Cup, a one day tournament in Perth. Mumbai, led by Samir Dighe, played Western Australia, KwaZulu Natal and Central Districts.