Pawar not to seek re-election as MCA chief

Mumbai: ICC chief Sharad Pawar has decided not to seek re-election as the president of Mumbai Cricket Association for a sixth term, Bringing curtains down on his decade-old reign as head of MCA.

At a meeting with his group of supporters held at the MCA's Recreation Centre at Bandra-Kurla Complex, the Union Agriculture Minister declared his intention not to seek re-election, according to sources.

"He confirmed at the meeting he's not contesting," the sources told.

The filing of nominations for the July 15 MCA elections ends on July 8.

The filing of nominations for the July 15 MCA elections ends on July 8. Talking to reporters, MCA treasurer Prof Ratnakar Shetty said Pawar had decided not to contest as he had shown himself as a native of Baramati in Pune district, while as per the association's constitution the candidate needs to be a resident of MCA's jurisdiction (Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai).

A decision on the Pawar panel would be announced on Wednesday, said Shetty, who is also the Chief Administrative Officer of the BCCI.

The decision by Pawar seems to have left the field open for former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar to become the first cricketer to don the mantle after nearly two decades during which time politicians have been at the helm.

Manohar Joshi succeeded former India stumper Madhav Mantri as MCA's president in 1992 and was, in turn, succeeded by Pawar in 2001.

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