Nari Contractor appointed as CIC chief, says his task won't be easy

Nari Contractor was, on Wednesday, named chairman of the Mumbai Cricket Association’s (MCA) all powerful Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC). According to a report in The DNA, Contractor was a strong contender for the top post that was vacated by former India wicketkeeper and managing committee member Chandrakant Pandit in April.

MCA joint secretary Nitin Dalal said Contractor was the top choice since he has vast experience. “He is a former India captain. He is also well versed with Mumbai cricket and is quite a maidan man.  These were the things that worked for him,” he said. The managing committee, in its meeting last Friday, had discussed Contractor’s name and waited till Wednesday to make the announcement after discussing the terms and conditions with the former captain.

Meanwhile according to a report in The Indian Express, the MCA have for long touted 78-year-old Contractor, who represented the Indian team in 31 Test matches, as an ideal choice for the chairman's role. And in a meeting held at the MCA office on Wednesday, Contractor confirmed his willingness to serve as the CIC chief.

“The MCA believes that Nari is the best man for the job. He is a former Indian captain and is aware of where our cricket stands right now. He has vast knowledge of the game and has been following Mumbai cricket closely for decades,” informed MCA joint-secretary PV Shetty.

The committee also agreed to have 67-year-old Pai, who played one Test against New Zealand at Brabourne Stadium back in 1969, in the CIC, replace Ravi Thakkar. Kulkarni, who announced his retirement three seasons ago, is another addition.

Meanwhile Contractor said, "I am happy to be involved with Mumbai cricket again," Contractor told TOI, before clearly spelling it out that his task won't be easy. It would be a difficult path. There are some problems because of which Mumbai cricket isn't doing well, and we have to take steps to correct them," he said, according to a report in The Times Of India.

When he was asked what he thought the problems were, and what steps he would recommend to correct them, Contractor said: "It is too early discuss all that at this stage. I have to also see who all are there in the CIC. "It is basically a thankless job, and how much can you change in one year? I will try my best, but results will take time. In every sport, victory takes time," he stressed.