Vengsarkar stresses on university cricket for youngsters’ progress

Mumbai, Nov 20: Former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar on Friday pointed out that playing university-level cricket will immensely benefit youngsters in the long run who are aiming to make the game a profession.

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) vice-president took the example of himself and ex-India skippers Ajit Wadekar and Sunil Gavaskar, who did exceedingly well in inter-university tournaments and finally got selected for the tour of the West Indies in 1971.

“I saw Ajit Wadekar scoring a triple hundred against Delhi University. Sunil Gavaskar made a lot of runs in inter- university cricket and got selected for the tour of the West Indies in 1971. This is a very important tournament for the youngsters who have taken cricket seriously and for the long run,” Vengsarkar said at a press conference here.

Vengsarkar on Friday announced that Mumbai University will be hosting the West Zone and All India Women's Inter-University cricket tournament to be organised by Rizvi College, Bandra in December this year.

It will be the first time in city’s cricket history that Mumbai University will host women’s tournament under MCA.

The former India batsman Vengsarkar talked about the days when he used to travel from one city to another in trains to play inter-university level cricket, adding that he got a daily allowance of Rs.10 while playing for Mumbai University.

“We used to travel by unreserved second class train compartments and used to sleep wherever we could get a place to sleep. We used to stay in small places, but it was fun and I had enjoyed those days. Rohinton Baria Trophy (inter-university cricket) was very important. I scored a near double hundred, 190 or so, against Delhi," he said.

The West Zone tournament is to be conducted between December 9 and 17, followed by the All India tournament from December 19 to 21.

The tournament will be played in knock out basis.

In the first phase 34 university teams from West Zone will compete for last eight spot. Top two teams from east zone will qualify for the All India stage.