Amol Muzumdar looks to turn back the clock

The MCA rule-book,however,might well prevent Muzumdar from making a return straightaway to his former team,as any player who moves to a different state team is expected to serve a one-year ‘cooling period’ before he is considered for selection again. This decision was taken by the MCA managing committee two years ago to ensure that players who go to play for other state associations play at least one season of local cricket before they are back in the reckoning.

Muzumdar though is not the only nomadic former Mumbai cricketer eying a return this season. “It’s not only Amol Muzumdar,who has sent his application. We have received requests from Vinit Indulkar,Bhavin Thakkar and Wilkin Mota. As per the rule we can’t do much as they have to serve the ‘cooling period’ for one year before they are considered,” MCA joint-secretary Nitin Dalal told Sportsline.

Muzumdar’s decision to leave Mumbai had come about after he was left out from the squad for the Buchi Babu Trophy in 2009,which led to the belief that the selectors wanted to look beyond him. He then went onto captain Assam,leading his team to instant promotion into the Elite Group. Unfortunately,Assam were relegated straight back to the Plate Division the very next season.

Batsmen Thakkar and Indulkar,meanwhile,represented Himachal Pradesh for three seasons,while all-rounder Mota went off to Tripura.

Dalal explained that the MCA’s hands were tied owing to the standing rule. And when asked about whether the MCA was considering to revoke the rule,he was non-committal.

“It’s not for me to decide,the managing committee will take a call on it,” he said.

‘Cooling period’ to be scrapped?

Meanwhile,sources in the MCA have revealed that there was a possibility of the ‘cooling period’ ruling being scrapped during the managing committee and Cricket Improvement Committee meeting,which will be held next month. With middle-order batsmen Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane most likely to be away on national duty with the Indian team,the MCA will have to find proper replacements for the two. And the array of youngsters tried over the past two seasons haven’t really set the world on fire,except probably Suryakumar Yadav,who made his debut last season.

“These are our boys after all and there is no harm in taking them back. We will see if the decision can be revoked. Allowing more players will only help Mumbai,and Muzumdar’s return will definitely strengthen Mumbai’s middle-order,” an official said.

When contacted Muzumdar he was unavailable for the comment.