Don’t touch our maidans: Mumbai Cricket Association

The state sports ministry’s plan of converting sports maidans in South Mumbai —Azad Maidan, Cross Maidan and Oval Maidan on the lines of New York’s Central Park and London’s Hyde Park has irked Mumbai cricket’s ruling body, the cricket lovers and the club owners at the three grounds.

The Mumbai Cricket Association said the
ministry better not even think on those lines. “These three grounds are heritage places. You can’t think of turning them into parks and stop sporting activities,” MCA joint secretary Lalchand Rajput.

“If cricket is stopped, where will the cricketers go and play? It is not a great idea to have parks which will stop sporting activities. Most of the clubs are 100 years old, you can’t just erase them,” he added.

Laxman Chauhan, owner of Sassanian Cricket Club at Azad Maidan where Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli created their world-record partnership of 664 runs in the Harris Shield in 1988, expressed his anger.

“Twenty-two matches are played simultaneously on Azad Maidan. Sunil Gavaskar and other legends have played on all the three maidans. Even Sachin and Kambli have played on this ground. It would be unfair to the upcoming cricketers,” said Chauhan.

Nadeen Memon, ex-managing committee member of MCA, said it is the association which is maintaining these grounds. “The government doesn’t maintain the grounds. Some of the clubs have completed 100 years even before the governments were formed. I don’t think it’s a great idea,” said Memon.