MCA requests CM to provide land for new stadium
The Mumbai Cricket Association has requested the Maharashtra government to allot it a plot of land in the city to build a bigger arena than Wankhede Stadium.
MUMBAI: The Mumbai Cricket Association, headed by BCCI President Sharad Pawar, has requested the Maharashtra government to allot it a plot of land in the city to build a bigger arena than Wankhede Stadium in the southern part of the metropolis.
The request was conveyed to the state Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh at the inauguration of the MCA's state-of-art indoor cricket facility at its Bandra-Kurla complex here last evening presided over by the CM.
Pawar, in his address, said that though Mumbai has been allotted the final of the 2011 World Cup, to be jointly hosted by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the Wankhede Stadium, in its present state, would not pass muster with the International Cricket Council.
"It's difficult to see the ICC accepting the Wankhede Stadium under its present condition to host the World Cup final," Pawar, who is also the Union minister for Agriculture, told the audience comprising representatives of the various clubs affiliated to the MCA.
The Wankhede Stadium is set to undergo a renovation soon to improve its facilities in time for hosting 2011 World Cup ties.
MCA treasurer Ratnakar Shetty, in his turn, requested the Maharashtra CM to allot a ground to the MCA for building a new stadium.
Deshmukh, on his part, said the government would consider the request after saying a free plot of land was a commodity that was very scarce in Mumbai.
The request was conveyed to the state Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh at the inauguration of the MCA's state-of-art indoor cricket facility at its Bandra-Kurla complex here last evening presided over by the CM.
Pawar, in his address, said that though Mumbai has been allotted the final of the 2011 World Cup, to be jointly hosted by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the Wankhede Stadium, in its present state, would not pass muster with the International Cricket Council.
"It's difficult to see the ICC accepting the Wankhede Stadium under its present condition to host the World Cup final," Pawar, who is also the Union minister for Agriculture, told the audience comprising representatives of the various clubs affiliated to the MCA.
The Wankhede Stadium is set to undergo a renovation soon to improve its facilities in time for hosting 2011 World Cup ties.
MCA treasurer Ratnakar Shetty, in his turn, requested the Maharashtra CM to allot a ground to the MCA for building a new stadium.
Deshmukh, on his part, said the government would consider the request after saying a free plot of land was a commodity that was very scarce in Mumbai.