Former Mumbai skipper Amol Muzumdar’s decision to come back ‘home’ has driven quite a few others to follow suit.
In an attempt to sign off his cricketing career in the city, the 37-year-old recently bid adieu to Assam where he was skipper for a few seasons. The veteran right-hander’s choice has also driven his juniors like Vinit Indulkar, Bhavin Thakkar (both HP), Vinayak Mane (J&K) and Wilkin Mota (Tripura) to return to the city. Another ‘self-exiled’ cricketer who is keen on playing for Mumbai again is medium-pacer Santosh Saxena. The 35-year-old, whose name was discussed at several national selection meetings over a decade ago, has submitted NOC to MCA on Wednesday.
The Central Railway junior clerk first donned the Lion Crest in the 1997-98 Ranji Trophy season. That was after he impressed Sanjay Manjrekar during an exhibition match in the city. Saxena, who also represented the Board President’s XI in a tour match against Zimbabwe in 2000-01, played three seasons for Mumbai. He then moved to Railways.
Saxena, who last played a First Class match in the 2009 Ranji Trophy season, hopes to end his career as a Mumbai player. “I have requested the MCA to allow me to play local cricket,” Saxena told DNA.
He doesn’t know much about the two-year ‘cooling-off period’ that the MCA had imposed a few years ago. “For me, it is important to play local tournaments. If my performances impress the selectors, then I might get a look-in. It would be great if I bow out as a Mumbai player,” he said.
It is learnt that the MCA, in its managing committee meeting on Friday, will discuss the cooling-off period. “It is not on the agenda. It might be discussed though. But I don’t think there’ll be any leeway. As far as Muzumdar’s plea is concerned, it’s 50-50,” a top source said.
