Contractor to quit as CIC chief

Barely two months after being appointed as the chief of Mumbai Cricket Association’s Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC), former India captain Nari Contractor has decided to step down from the post.

It is learnt that the 78-year-old Contractor conveyed his message to the members of the committee in the last CIC meeting held on September 18, the same day they appointed Abey Kuruvilla as the chief of the state selection committee.

The 31-Test veteran, however, is yet to inform the MCA’s newly-elected president Ravi Sawant of his decision.

Sources said that Contractor wanted to step down due to personal issues. “Mr Contractor had taken up the job as he had certain plans for the betterment of Mumbai cricket. However, suddenly there have been some issues that have forced him to take this step,” the source said.

“There have been times when a couple of CIC meetings had to be postponed due to his unavailability. He doesn’t want Mumbai cricket to be affected. Age is also one of the factors as he turning 79,” the source added.

Also, Contractor did not want to leave MCA in the middle of the season. “He feels it is better to quit at the start of the season so that it is easy for the new chief,” the source added.

An MCA official confirmed that Contractor has conveyed his unavailability. “He hasn’t given any thing in writing but he has conveyed it to the CIC members in the last meeting. He will meet the president in the coming days and inform about his decision,” said the official.

Contractor was appointed as the CIC chief in July after Chandrakant Pandit was asked to quit due to his commitments in Rajasthan.