Mumbai and cricket hand in hand. The city is known for its cricket in the streets and local grounds like Shivaji Park and Azad maidan. One of the most iconic grounds of the city Azad maidan will miss out on some of the cricketing action because of the festive season and the metro project in the city. Majority of the ground has been acquired by the metro construction happening in the area, and the Ramlila association will now acquire the rest.
109-year-old Fort Vijay cricket club has informed the Maharashtra Cricket Association that the local authorities have told them at least three of the six wickets on the ground will be affected because of the stage preparation. Ramlila has been happening in the field for over four decades now, but this time it will affect cricket because of the metro project in the ground. In August, a ‘morcha,’ a Maratha-Reservation protest took place at the ground which had spoiled majority of the pitches.
Fort Vijay cricket club secretary Jayant Zaveri said:
“I was told that Ramlila will take place from 7pm to 10 pm. They will build a stage near the pitches. More than 2000 people will turn up to see Ramlila during Dussehra. If Ramlila takes place here it will have affect three clubs. The authorities have told us that we will remove chairs in the night but who will make sure that pitches don’t get spoiled.”
Zaveru was furious with the local authorities and wants MCA to take some action to prevent any damage to the ground, he added:
“Morcha took place last month and it spoiled our pitches and now this will happen. Where shall cricketers go? Mumbai is famous because of its cricket. There is Bombay Gymkhana next to us, hardly any cricketing activities happen there. Authorities can take Ramlila and morchas there.”