MCA defers naming chief selector, coach

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Cricket Association's (MCA) Managing Committee has chosen to defer the naming of chief selector and coach of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team till its next meeting after the members couldn't come to a consensus over the timing and the manner of appointment in Thursday's emergent meeting.
The MCA managing committee was to decide on the chief selector and coach for the Mumbai team as per the guidelines set by the Chandrakant Pandit chaired technical committee.
MCA president Ravi Savant and other office bearers had apparently short-listed a few candidates for the position which was circulated to the members. But, insiders say that a few members weren't willing to take a call immediately and wanted a proper discussion before they agreed on the names.
"The office bearers had short-listed names for the coach's and chief selector's position. But the members wanted some time to debate and delve on the issue. The MCA president has now asked the managing committee members to give their suggestions in writing and the issue will be sorted out in the next meeting," a senior MCA official said.
The position of the chief selector had fallen vacant after chairman of the national selection committee Sandeep Patil had resigned from the MCA post in April citing a busy schedule. The coach's name, too, wasn't confirmed after Sulakshan Kulkarni's contract expired.
Although no names were discussed in the meeting, a source said that a few members are keen to rope in former Test players Sudhir Naik and Paras Mhambrey as the chief selector and coach respectively.
The managing committee also couldn't decide on the proposed change in the by-laws over the conflict of interest conundrum.
Savant, who is a strong proponent of barring people employed with the BCCI, Garware Club House and Mumbai Indians from contesting in the MCA elections sought a change in the constitution.
"They couldn't come up with proper documentation for it and hence that too matter has been kept pending," a source said.