Sudhir Naik quits as pitch consultant

After tending to the Wankhede wicket for almost three decades, former India Test opener Sudhir Naik has finally 'declared' his innings.

"I loved doing my job all these years, but I'm above 70 now. Last year, a coach (the then team India director Ravi Shastri) had a go at me as he felt the pitch wasn't to his liking. Tomorrow, the Indian captain may dish out similar treatment to me.

"I don't think I can take that kind of stress anymore. My two-year contract (as a pitch consultant) with the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) ended on May 31, and I've written to them that I don't want to continue," the noted curator told TOI on Wednesday.

"We've received his resignation. We'll appoint a new curator soon," confirmed MCA JT secretary PV Shetty .

Ramesh Mhamunkar, who has assisted Naik for the past few years, is likely to take over the chief curator's responsibility on a full-time basis now at the iconic stadium.

"I want to teach young curators the art of preparing good wickets. Today's curators are well-educated, which is good because they're aware about the science that goes behind preparing a wicket," Naik said.

Though Naik was in the middle of a controversy after he alleged that Shastri had abused him for preparing a flat track during the fifth ODI between India and South Africa in October last year, the 71-year-old, who played three Tests and two ODIs for India in the 1970s, has often been praised for churning out sporting pitches, most notably during the World Cup final in 2011, in which India triumphed. It won't be a surprise, thus, if the MCA does send an 'SOS' to him before the India-England Test in December at the last-minute, as has happened in the past.

Naik blamed both Shastri and Ganguly for the recent controversy about the India coaching job. "Shastri should've come personally for the interview, instead of talking to the committee on Skype. That would've made his case stronger, like it did for Kumble. On the other hand, Ganguly should've also postponed his meeting at the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). You're going to select the India coach, after all," he felt.