Mumbai, March 26: Ajinkya Naik, the President of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), expressed his happiness about hosting cricket matches in the city, despite the absence of a Test match during the India-Australia Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2027 at Wankhede Stadium.
Speaking to reporters at an MCA award ceremony at Khar Gymkhana on Thursday, Naik stated, “Every match is important—whether it’s a Ranji Trophy game, an international match, an IPL game, or a club match. For us, all matches hold equal significance. We are pleased that cricket is happening in Mumbai, and we will work for the betterment of the sport. That is our goal.”
He added, “We ensure that we manage and implement any responsibilities given to us by our main association effectively.”
Mumbai is set to host the third ODI match between India and Zimbabwe on January 9, 2027. When asked specifically about not hosting a major Test match, Naik mentioned that such decisions are beyond his jurisdiction.
“I can only speak about the MCA. As the Apex Council, we make decisions within our scope. For matters related to the BCCI, you will need to contact their office, where members of the Apex Council are present. I cannot answer those questions,” he said.
Regarding the overall progress of Mumbai’s teams across all formats and categories (men and women), Naik highlighted that Mumbai has been awarded the ‘Best Association’ title by the BCCI for three consecutive years. He attributed this success to collective efforts.
“I owe everything I have done to all the members of this club, including our secretary. Success is not the result of one person; it is always a team effort. Everyone present here contributes significantly to the MCA’s success,” Naik remarked.
The BCCI has announced the venues for the five Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2027, which will take place in Nagpur, Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi, and Ahmedabad. This means that Mumbai will have to wait even longer since it last hosted a Test match between India and Australia in 2004.
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PK
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