Ajaz Patel’s 10-wicket ball will have ‘pride of place’ in MCA museum

Nikhil Bapat

Mumbai: Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) president Vijay Patil has lauded New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel for donating his “10-wicket” ball for the upcoming MCA museum where it would duly be the “pride of the place”.

“What he (Ajaz Patel) achieved at the Wankhede stadium was something completely phenomenal. And the fact that he did at our iconic (Wankhede) stadium just gives us another memory to savour from his historic ground,” Patil said.

The Mumbai-born 34-year-old Ajaz, a left-arm spinner became only the third bowler in Test history to return a 10-for in an innings after Jim Laker (1956) and Anil Kumble (1999) and that too in the city of his birth.

“And the fact that he traces his roots back to Mumbai made it extra special for us. He was gracious, once the feat was achieved, he generously gave us the cricket ball, by which he took those 10 wickets, so that is something that we greatly value and it will occupy pride of place in our MCA museum,” added Patil.

Patil also stressed that the upcoming museum would inspire youth. “I think it is a right step, because we (Mumbai cricket) had such a great legacy. We had 80 odd internationals and almost 1/5th of the international runs scored by India have been scored by Mumbai batsmen. This willpreserve our heritage and inspire present and future cricketers.”

Mahendra Singh Dhoni had won India the 2011 ODI World Cup by hitting a six at the Wankhede stadium. Asked whether the seat where the ball landed would be preserved, Patil quipped, “Those were very special moments, the 2011 World Cup of course was such a special moment in cricket history, the fact that it happened at the Wankhede stadium is etched in our hearts. “We have had so many historical momentsand all those need to be put together.’’