Late Ajit Wadekar's wife Rekha urges MCA to name cricket museum after him; they say 'too late'

Rekha (left) with the late Ajit Wadekar

Ajit Wadekar's wife Rekha has written to the Mumbai Cricket Association President Dr Vijay Patil urging the association to name the proposed museum in the departed Mumbai and India captain's honour. Despite serving Mumbai cricket for several decades, nothing has been done to perpetuate the memory of Wadekar at the Wankhede Stadium.

A decision was taken recently to name the museum after MCA's former president and current guide Sharad Pawar.

"Recently we read in the newspaper that the new cricket museum will be titled after Shri Sharadrao Pawarji and the lounge will be named after my husband the Late Padmashri Ajit Wadekar. I would like you to consider my husband's name for the upcoming cricket museum," said Wadekar's wife in her email, a copy of which is with mid-day. MCA's BKC indoor academy is already named after Pawar.

Late Ajit Wadekar. Pic/AFP

Wadekar's wife highlighted the historic triumphs in the West Indies and England in 1970-71 and the fact that he served Indian cricket in various capacities - as coach, manager - and chairman of the national selection committee.

Even Indore's Holkar Stadium has a stand named after Wadekar.

The southpaw was an integral part of Mumbai's stunning 15 consecutive Ranji Trophy triumphs out of which four were won under his leadership - 1968-69, 1969-70, 1970-71 and 1971-72. He amassed 4,388 runs at 59.29 with 12 centuries in the Ranji Trophy.

Wadekar was the chairman of MCA's Cricket Improvement Committee when he breathed his last on August 15, 2018. He was also the MCA vice-president for two decades, stressed Mrs Wadekar in her email.

However, an MCA official told mid-day on Tuesday that nothing can be done at this stage: "If the proposal had come before the name of the museum was finalised, it could have been thought of. But since the name of Pawar saheb has already been finalised, it would not be right to go back on the decision."