Photo courtesy : MCA Infrastructure & Development Department / MCA Media Team
The Maharashtra Cricket Association recently hosted the Ex-Cricketers Meet 2025, an evening dedicated to reconnecting past players with the current leadership and charting a collective path for Maharashtra cricket. The event brought together former players, MCA office-bearers and coaching leadership for an informal but deeply productive conversation about player welfare, grassroots pathways, and the Association’s long-term vision.
Felicitation of outgoing ICA members, Rajit Khirid and Kalpana Tapikar for their valuable contribution to Maharashtra Cricket.
The evening opened with a warm welcome from Adv. Kamlesh Pisal, Hon. Secretary, followed by a keynote address from MCA President Shri Rohit Pawar, who presented the Association’s recent developments and future roadmap — from stadium and academy infrastructure to talent identification and women’s cricket initiatives. President Pawar underlined MCA’s commitment to preserving heritage while building professional pathways that give players both a sporting and career safety net.
A highlight of the program was a special talk by Shaun Williams, Director of Cricket and Head Coach, who returned to MCA with renewed plans for academy expansion, high-performance coaching and closer integration between age-group programs and senior sides. Shaun reflected on MCA’s progress, shared practical coaching insights, and engaged ex-cricketers in a lively Q&A on preparing players for Ranji and other BCCI competitions.
The gathering also honoured two outgoing ICA members, Rajit Khirid and Kalpana Tapikar for their service to the game, followed by a fellowship dinner that provided ample time for informal networking and mentoring. The relaxed format allowed ex-cricketers to share memories, offer mentorship to current coaches and staff, and discuss collaborative ideas-ranging from talent scouting at district level to video-analysis support for academy players.
Key takeaways
- Strengthened ties between MCA leadership and former players to leverage their experience for mentoring and talent ID.
- Clear focus from the coaching team on academy development, player welfare and preparing talent for BCCI pathways.
- Agreement to formalise a mentorship channel where ex-cricketers can support coaching clinics, talent scouting and career guidance for players.
The Ex-Cricketers Meet 2025 reaffirmed MCA’s belief that the collective wisdom of past players is a vital resource for the future. The Association will publish a short report summarising action points from the evening and next steps for converting ideas into programs that benefit players across all age groups.