Nadeem Memon, who recently got elected as Cricket Secretary of the MSSA, has emphasised that his association deserves to be complimented for the decision to implement Sachin Tendulkar's 14-a-side concept for schools
Nadeem Memon and Sachin Tendulkar
Nadeem Memon, who recently got elected as Cricket Secretary of the Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA), has emphasised that his association deserves to be complimented for the decision to implement Sachin Tendulkar's 14-a-side concept for schools cricket from this season onwards.
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"MSSA runs school cricket in Mumbai and it is the final authority. When I was in the Mumbai Cricket Association as a managing committee member, I brought this up with the committee and I remember one key official ridiculing it. To me, Sachin had made a valid suggestion and since he is a product of school cricket, he knew what he is talking about," Memon, the former curator of the Wankhede Stadium, told mid-day yesterday.
Memon alongwith a few members of the MSSA's executive committee met Tendulkar at his Bandra residence last month for a discussion on school cricket. Meanwhile, MSSA president Fr Jude Rodrigues stressed that the 14-a-side format will be trailed only for a year and the decision to continue will be taken only by the school body.
Tendulkar's 14-a-side concept in which 11 players will get a chance to bat and bowl is aimed at giving opportunities to players who don't make the playing XI in a competition where there is huge participation and very little second chances. Ricky Couto, who was Tendulkar's classmate at Shardashram Vidyamandir in the 1980s, welcomed the move to get 14 players involved in a match.
"In our time there were a lot of talented players who couldn't get into our team because it was so set and strong. I was a middle order batsman and could bowl off-spin, but I did not get a chance," said Couto.
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