MUMBAI: Veteran cricket administrator Prof Ratnakar Shetty has urged the Mumbai Cricket Association to name at least something at the Wankhede Stadium after former India captain Ajit Wadekar, who captained India to maiden, historic Test series wins in West Indies and England back in 1971.
Soon after receiving the 'Lifetime Achievement Award for Administration' at the MCA's annual prize distribution function on Thursday evening at the Sharad Pawar Indoor Academy Ground in BKC, Shetty, who served as an office-bearer at the MCA and then as a senior staffer at the BCCI, said in his speech, "Mumbai cricket is something which is special. It has given a lot to many people. MCA was the launching pad for my success as a cricket administrator. Whatever I could do for the BCCI, was because I learnt the art of cricket administration at the MCA. I thank the MCA's Apex Council for this great gesture. Off the track I have one request to make, please don't forget Ajit Wadekar. He deserves to be named at the Wankhede Stadium. He was one of the greatest India captains and I think it’s time that we give that honour to him also.”
In Feb 2022, Shetty had requested the MCA to name the Grandstand above the ‘President’s Box’ at the Wankhede Stadium after Wadekar, who passed away in 2018. At that time, the widow of the former India captain, Rekha Ajit Wadekar, had urged the MCA to name the association’s upcoming museum after her husband.
On the occasion, the MCA honoured Pravin Barve of MIG CC (administration), and former India captains-Dilip Vengsarkar (men) and Diana Edulji (women's) with the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' too. Vengsarkar was not present on the occasion.
