JOIN USThere was a time when almost half the Indian Test team was made up of Mumbai cricketers, but the numbers have dwindled and Mumbai Cricket Association's (MCA) new President Ravi Savant has identified the problem as lack of discipline and fitness.
"Over the years the scene has changed and we find one or two players from Mumbai in the Indian team. I don't want to say the past glory can come back but we have to set our goal higher. One such step towards that goal shall be strict discipline amongst players individually as well as a team," Savant said.
"The players are the ambassadors of the association and must keep the dignity and honour of the game and MCA paramount. I shall not compromise on discipline," he added.
Savant told the MCA's member clubs here last night that the association would strive hard to bring back the glorious days.
Mumbai cricket, of late, has been let down by a number of incidents of indiscipline.
Veteran speedster Ajit Agarkar returned home last season from Cuttack in a huff after being dropped from the playing XI, while last month two key Mumbai players, top order batsman, part-time bowler Abhishek Nayar and medium pacer Dhawal Kulkarni had allegedly abused umpires in the Darashah tournament final held in Bangalore.
They were reprimanded and dropped from a pre-season tournament in Nagpur following a letter of complaint received from the Karnataka State Cricket Association.
Savant, meanwhile, also wanted the players to be match fit. "The players have to be match fit before selection at all levels and strict instructions are being issued already to the physios, coaches and selectors. Physios shall be accountable for any breakdown during the match and liable for penal action," he said.
"For this (fitness) purpose we shall create facilities at our academy for rehab of players," he added.