Shamik Chakrabarty, Mumbai
The Mumbai Cricket Association’s (MCA) cricket museum at Wankhede Stadium will be open to public from Sunday, the association has informed. The museum, named after the former MCA, BCCI and ICC president Sharad Pawar, showcases the rich history and legacy of Mumbai cricket, as well as the achievements of the legends who excelled for India at the international level and for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. The museum was inaugurated in August.
There would be a guided museum tour and also a museum-plus-stadium tour. The visitors will be allowed to go to select areas of Wankhede Stadium. The museum tour will take 75 minutes, while the museum-plus-stadium tour will take about 150 minutes. There will be multiple guided tours, six days a week, from Tuesday to Sunday. Fans will have the option of choosing between different timings. A maximum of 20 visitors will be accommodated in each tour. The tours can only be booked online.
“We are pleased to open the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum to cricket fans,” said MCA president Ajinkya Naik. “The Wankhede Stadium is the home of Indian cricket, and Mumbai is the cricketing capital of the country. Some of the greatest cricketers of all time have honed their skills on the maidans of the city and subsequently represented either India or Mumbai with distinction at the Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai’s record in the Ranji Trophy, India’s premier domestic cricket competition, speaks for itself.
“The museum showcases memorabilia that tells the story of Mumbai cricket and its cricketers. Cricket fans will also have the option of reliving memories by visiting the Wankhede Stadium, which has hosted some extraordinary matches over the decades.”
MCA secretary Abhay Hadap said: “The Mumbai Cricket Association has had a glorious history. The success of Mumbai’s cricketers at the domestic and international levels is the outcome of teamwork. The cricketers have been complemented by several individuals, who displayed diligence and professionalism off the field. They include administrators, coaches, curators, statisticians and the media, among others. The Museum and Museum+Stadium tours will give cricket fans the opportunity to learn more about the individuals who shaped Mumbai cricket.”
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