MUMBAI: The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is not upset about the non-allocation of a Test match during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy early next year. Nagpur, Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi and Ahmedabad will host the high-profile five-Test series between India and Australia from January to February next year, the BCCI announced on Thursday.
Instead, MC will host the third ODI between India and Zimbabwe on January 9.“All day long, everyone has been calling me about not getting a Test match. The truth is that we are very happy with everything the BCCI is offering us. We will do a great job hosting Zimbabwe in an international match,” MCA president Ajinkya Naik said at a felicitation ceremony organized by Khar Gymkhana to honor MCA’s achievement of winning the ‘Best Association’ award from the BCCI for three consecutive years.
Later, speaking to reporters at the event held on Thursday, Naik asserted that the MCA took the BCCI’s decision in good spirit. “All matches are important, whether it is a Ranji Trophy match, an ODI, IPL, or a club match. All matches are the same for us,” he said.When asked if he was disappointed with the distribution of matches in Mumbai, Naik said: “We are happy to have cricket in Mumbai and will continue to work towards improving the game.
Whatever our parent association gives us, we ensure that we follow it. We are strictly implementing all standard operating procedures.”Asked if the Wankhede Stadium was not earmarked for the India-Australia Test due to hosting up to eight matches during the 2026 T20 World Cup, Naik said: “Whatever the BCCI instructs us, we are making sure that we implement it.”Asked whether high-profile Test series like India-Australia or India-England should be limited to four or five home venues, similar to England and Australia, Naik said: “I can only speak on behalf of MCA. Any decision we take is through our Apex Board. If it is a BCCI matter, you will have to ask the BCCI. I cannot comment on that.”
