Maharashtra Cricket Association
{{short description|Cricket organization in Maharashtra state, India}}
{{Infobox sport governing body
|name = Maharashtra Cricket Association
|abbrev = MCA
|logo = MaharashtraCricketAssociationLogo.png
|sport = Cricket
|category =
|image =
|caption =
|jurisdiction = {{flagicon image|..Maharashtra Flag(INDIA).png}} Regional
|founded = {{Start date and age|1953}}
|aff = Board of Control for Cricket in India
|affdate =
|region = West Zone
|regionyear =
|headquarters = Maharashtra Cricket Association, Narveer Tanaji Wadi, Shivajinagar, Pune – 411005 {{Cite news |title=About us - Maharashtra Cricket Association |language=en-IN |url=https://cricketmaharashtra.com/index.php/about-us/}}
|location = Gahunje, Pune, Maharashtra, India
|president = Rohit Rajendra Pawar{{Cite news |last=Karhadkar |first=Amol |date=2023-01-09 |title=NCP MLA Rohit Pawar elected as Maharashtra Cricket Association president unopposed |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/ncp-mla-rohit-pawar-elected-as-maharashtra-cricket-association-president-unopposed/article66354039.ece |access-date=2023-02-20 |issn=0971-751X}}
|chairman =
|chairperson =
|chair =
|chiefexec =
|secretary =Shubhendra Bhandarkar
|coach =
|Key Players =
|womenscoach = n/a
|key staff =Sanjay Bajaj (treasurer){{cite web | url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/maharashtra-premier-league-2023-auction-date-schedule-time/article66881863.ece/amp/ | title=Maharashtra Premier League to return on June 15; Ruturaj, Tripathi, Jadhav among players in action | date=22 May 2023 }}
|operating income =
|sponsor =Punit Balan Group
|year closed =
|replaced =
|prevfounded =
|url = www.cricketmaharashtra.com
|countryflag = India
|native name=महाराष्ट्र क्रिकेट संघटना}}
The Maharashtra Cricket Association (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र क्रिकेट संघटणा) is the governing body of the cricket in the Maharashtra state of India. Its Maharashtra cricket team represent Maharashtra state in Indian cricket. It is affiliated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India.{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/mca-elections-kakatkar-is-mca-boss-players-left-in-lurch/articleshow/71417838.cms |title=MCA Elections: Kakatkar is MCA boss; players left in lurch - Times of India |work=The Times of India |date=3 October 2019 |location=India |access-date=2019-10-10}}{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/charity-commissioner-asks-mca-to-get-its-constitution-confirmed-by-coa/articleshow/71483223.cms |title=Charity Commissioner asks MCA to get its constitution confirmed by CoA - Times of India |work=The Times of India |date=7 October 2019 |location=India |access-date=2019-10-10}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/while-maha-cricket-assn-tries-to-keep-cricket-going-coach-of-state-ranji-team-says-sport-thriving-in-pune/story-nPb4bB0PVWw4P3gEmnrm3M.html |title=While Maha Cricket Assoc tries to keep cricket going, coach of state Ranji team says sport thriving in Pune |date=2019-04-15 |work=Hindustan Times |publisher=Hindustan Times |location=India |access-date=2019-10-10}}
Its women team represents Maharashtra in women's domestic cricket competitions while men's team in tournament : Ranji trophy, Vijay Hazare trophy etc. of BCCI. The association have an international standards Cricket stadium, the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium at Gahunje village near Pune in Maharashtra, where its headquarter is present.{{Cite web|title=Maharashtra Cricket Association official website|url=http://www.cricketmaharashtra.com/|access-date=2021-11-29|work=www.cricketmaharashtra.com}}
Nationalist Congress Party MLA Rohit Pawar is its present president. In 2023 the board founded its franchise cricket league, the Maharashtra Premier League which is based on BCCI's Indian Premier League.{{Cite web |title=Maharashtra Premier League from June 15 in Pune; first edition to have six teams |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/maharashtra-premier-league-from-june-15-in-pune-first-edition-to-have-six-teams |access-date=2023-06-05 |work=Free Press Journal |language=en}}
Maharashtra state's district Cricket associations are affiliated to this board.
History
The Maharashtra Cricket Association was established to promote and develop cricket in the state of Maharashtra, India.{{cite web |url=https://www.zapcricket.com/blogs/newsroom/maharashtra-cricket-association-mca-stadium-pune |title=Maharashtra Cricket Association MCA Stadium: Haven in Pune |website=ZAP Cricket |date=5 September 2023 |access-date=2024-07-06}} Initially, the MCA used the Nehru Stadium in Pune for international matches. However, due to disputes over ticket allocations with the Pune Municipal Corporation, the MCA decided to construct its own stadium.{{cite web |url=https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-series/6725/ranji-trophy-2023-24/venues/287/maharashtra-cricket-association-stadium |title=Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune details, matches, stats |website=Cricbuzz |access-date=2024-07-06}}
= MCA Stadium =
{{Main|Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium}}
In 2007, the MCA commissioned Hopkins Architects to design a new 57,000-seat stadium in Pune.{{cite web |url=https://www.urbansystems.design/maharashtra-cricket-association-stadium-pune-india |title=Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India |website=Urban Systems Design |access-date=2024-07-06}} The groundbreaking ceremony for the new stadium was performed on October 21, 2007, by Sharad Pawar, the then President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.{{cite web |url=https://cricketmaharashtra.com/mca-stadium.html |title=MCA's International Stadium, Gahunje |website=Cricket Maharashtra |access-date=2024-07-06}}
The MCA Stadium hosted its first Ranji Trophy game between Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh on December 21, 2011.{{cite web |url=https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-series/6725/ranji-trophy-2023-24/venues/287/maharashtra-cricket-association-stadium |title=Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune details, matches, stats |website=Cricbuzz |access-date=2024-07-06}} It was officially inaugurated on April 1, 2012, by Sharad Pawar, who was then the ICC President.{{cite web |url=https://facts.net/world/landmarks/18-extraordinary-facts-about-maharashtra-cricket-association-stadium/ |title=18 Extraordinary Facts About Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium |website=Facts.net |date=20 September 2023 |access-date=2024-07-06}}
The stadium hosted its first international fixture, a T20I match between India and England, in December 2012.{{cite web |url=https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-series/6725/ranji-trophy-2023-24/venues/287/maharashtra-cricket-association-stadium |title=Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune details, matches, stats |website=Cricbuzz |access-date=2024-07-06}} In November 2015, it was granted approval as a Test match center by the International Cricket Council (ICC), and it hosted its first Test match in February 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricket-grounds/maharashtra-cricket-association-stadium-pune-545380 |title=Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium - Cricket Ground in Pune, India |website=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=2024-07-06}}
The MCA Stadium has since become a prominent venue for IPL and international cricket matches. It has served as the home ground for IPL teams such as Pune Warriors India and Rising Pune Supergiant.{{cite web |url=https://facts.net/world/landmarks/18-extraordinary-facts-about-maharashtra-cricket-association-stadium/ |title=18 Extraordinary Facts About Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium |website=Facts.net |date=20 September 2023 |access-date=2024-07-06}} The stadium's unique design, featuring a roof made of steel trusses resembling a spider's web, has made it an architectural marvel and a symbol of Maharashtra's love for cricket.{{cite web |url=https://www.urbansystems.design/maharashtra-cricket-association-stadium-pune-india |title=Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India |website=Urban Systems Design |access-date=2024-07-06}}
Tournament
Maharashtra Cricket Association founded its franchise league Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) in 2023, which have six teams. It sold the franchise rights for 57 crore rupees for three years through open bidding. The first season will be held Jun 15, 2023 onwards at Pune's stadium. Pune franchise was sold in 14 Cr along with Ruturaj Gaikwad as their iconic player, Kedar Jadhav is Kolhapur franchise's iconic player.{{cite web | url=https://www.indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/maharashtra-premier-league-gets-franchise-fee-of-rs-57-80-cr-for-6-teams-8644485/lite/ | title=Maharashtra Premier League gets franchise fee of Rs 57.80 cr for 6 teams | date=4 June 2023 }}
Team
{{Main|Maharashtra cricket team}}
This board's teams represent Maharashtra in domestic cricket championships such as Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Maharashtra women's cricket team represents Maharashtra in women's cricket. These team plays its home matches at MCA Stadium, Pune.
Affiliated district associations
The district Cricket associations which are affiliated to the Maharashtra Cricket association are as follows.
- Dhule district Cricket association
- Nanded district Cricket association
- Jalgaon district Cricket association
- Pune district Cricket association
- Nashik district Cricket association
- Kolhapur district Cricket association
- Nandurbar district Cricket association
- Chatrapati Sambhajinagar district Cricket association
- Ahilyanagar district Cricket association
- Hingoli district Cricket association
- Satara district Cricket association
- Jalna district Cricket association
- Sangli district Cricket association
- Latur district Cricket association
- Beed district Cricket association
- Solapur district Cricket association
- Dharashiv district Cricket association
- Raigad district Cricket association
- Ratnagiri district Cricket association
- Parbhani district Cricket association
References
{{reflist}}
{{BCCI Members}}{{Portal|Cricket
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Category:Cricket governing bodies in India
Category:Cricket in Maharashtra
Category:Sports organizations established in 1953
Category:Sports governing bodies in India