On Saturday, for the first time in 11 years, a slim, tall and popular man, who answered to the name of Abdul Baig, was neither at the Polly Umrigar Gate nor the Vinoo Mankad Gate of the Wankhede Stadium. Baig, 69, passed away after a massive heart attack on Friday morning at his residence while he was about to leave for the MCA office to oversee security arrangements on the eve of the Delhi Capitals v Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL-15 clash.

The death of the retired ACP, Mumbai Police has left the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) management shell-shocked. “It is absolutely shocking. We met just the other day. I just cannot believe that Baig is not with us anymore,” remarked CS Naik, the MCA’s executive secretary, who earlier served as chief executive.