Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep11: Mumbai Cricket Association will raise its club subsidy corpus to ₹500 crore over ten years. Wankhede Stadium lounges will honour Tendulkar, Rahane and late Madhav Mantri.*
The Mumbai Cricket Association substantially expanded its grassroots funding plan on Friday. It will raise its subsidy corpus to ₹500 crore. The support covers affiliated clubs across Mumbai. The commitment spans the next ten years. The decision came during MCA’s annual general meeting.
MCA Expands Grassroots Corpus Fivefold
In April 2026, MCA’s apex council approved a ₹100-crore corpus. That plan aimed at long-term club stability. The latest AGM significantly raised the target. MCA president Ajinkya Naik said ₹40 crore will be contributed towards it. The overall figure reaches ₹500 crore across ten years.
How Clubs Could Use MCA Funding
The corpus supports Mumbai’s grassroots cricket infrastructure. Clubs can use it for facility maintenance. Naik said funds may cover logistics or equipment. Talent development remains another stated objective. Operational capabilities are also a funding priority. Detailed annual disbursement arrangements were not specified.
Why Long-Term Grassroots Funding Matters
A ten-year horizon offers continuity beyond one-off grants. Club cricket relies on recurring facility and equipment costs. Sustained programmes support ongoing talent development. The corpus structure provides a longer planning framework. Specific yearly allocations were not detailed in the announcement.
Wankhede Lounges Honour Tendulkar, Rahane And Mantri
MCA will name designated lounges at Wankhede Stadium. Sachin Tendulkar will receive one such honour. Ajinkya Rahane, recently retired, will receive another. Late Madhav Mantri, a former Mumbai captain, completes the trio. Mantri also served as the governing body’s president. He played four Tests for India.
A three-member committee will oversee the initiative. It includes MCA vice-president Jitendra Awhad. Apex council member Milind Narvekar is also included. Advocate Ujwal Nikam completes the committee. Naik said secretaries would join their work.
MCA Makes Additional Governance Changes
The AGM produced further administrative decisions. Former Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Amjad Sayed became ombudsman. MCA’s cricket committee received an extension. Raju Kulkarni continues as its president. Sangita Katware and Preeti Dimri remain committee members.
Closing
The ₹500-crore corpus represents MCA’s central commitment this year. It ties long-term funding to grassroots infrastructure. Facilities, equipment and talent development remain its core objectives. The Wankhede honours add symbolic weight to the AGM. Together, these decisions signal a broader push towards sustaining Mumbai’s cricket ecosystem.
