Sharad Pawar should retire like Sachin: Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has advised his political rival NCP President Sharad Pawar to take cue from cricketing greats and retire gracefully from the game.

Mumbai Cricket Association's (MCA) biennial elections are scheduled to be held at Wankhede on Wednesday and Thackeray, who has pledged support to the panel headed by Pawar's rival - DY Patil chief Vijay Patil - said, "Cricketing greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar have retired from the game but the current MCA chief is refusing to budge even though he has scored zero. It's about time he retires from the sport."

Thackeray was speaking at a get-together organized by Patil's group -Cricket First -at a city hotel on Monday evening. Pawar is in his second innings as the president of the MCA after being elected unopposed in 2013. His first stint was from 2001-2011. The veteran politician, who is out of power in the centre and state, is looking to ex tend his stay at the MCA by heading the Pawar-Mahaddalkar group but has found a formidable challenger in Patil this time.

True to form, Thackeray was in no mood to mince words as he mixed his speech with cricketing anecdotes and dash of political satire to leave the audience in splits.

Taking potshots at Sena's coalition partner in the state, Thackeray highlighted the tacit understanding enjoyed by BJP and NCP even as he made feeble attempts to distance politics away from the MCA elections "For long they have accused Sena of sitting in Congress' lap but now who is sitting on who's lap?" he said when asked about CM's reported support to the Pawar-led panel.

Promising better facilities for cricketers at the city maidans, Thackeray further criticized the current regime and accused them of not working in favour of the game.

"Sachin Tendulkar wasn't the product of these swanky facilities that have come up at BKC and Kandivili. He emerged from the maidans. They are just interested in making these clubs for their personal gains. Can anybody sitting here afford to get a membership at BKC or Kandivli?" he said.

While batting for Dr HD Kanga League to be played in monsoon, the Sena president said that it was his wish to see Mumbai retain its erstwhile cricketing glory. "There was a time when the Indian team had six or seven players from the city. Any Mumbai player could easily fit into the side, I want to see those days return again," he said.

Asked by reporters if he was okay with Pakistan playing at the Wankhede in next year's ICC World Twenty20, Thackeray said, "I am here to speak about the MCA elections and not about Pakistan Cricket. Those interested about Pakistan can go there and fight elections."