Achievements from the Year 2000 to 2009

Our Cricket team has always been the main stay of our club from years. Number of activities has been undertaken by our Cricket section like regular conducting Padmakar Talim, Young Comrade and Mahim Dadar Shield Cricket Tournaments including the Summer Vacation Coaching Camps and regular CricketAcademy. Many of our players were selected for various teams of Mumbai viz. Under 14, 16, 19 and 22. We also have the privilege to have BCCI and MCA matches on our Club ground like Zonal matches, Senior and Junior tournament, Times Shield, Late Balkrishna Bapat Shield, Cosmopolitan Shield etc and even Invitation Cricket Tournament matches like Police Invitation Shield.

The Year of Achievements 2000-01

In this year we got the honour of staging the first ever first class “RANJI TROPHY” match at our venue and gaining the status of the “Sixth First Class Cricketing Venue” in Mumbai. In the same year our club also got the honour of having England Under 19 team playing the Rest of India under 19 team in a three-day game. The greatest achievement was when Australian cricket team started their Indian tour with a practice session at our Club ground.

Apart from the above achievements, we also had the privilege to stage three Ranji Trophy One Day matches of West Zone League and four matches of league with Semi-Final of Corporate Trophy. In addition to this, a rare honour or bonus, the West Zone Cricket Academy of Cricket Board was conducted at our ground.

During the “World Cup Year” our club conducted a unique cricketing event ‘MID DAY-RACE FOR PACE’ for the young upcoming fast bowlers of age group of under 15,17 and 19, under the experienced eyes of two former Indian Captains Ajit Wadekar and Nari Contractor and the selected four were given cash prize and were sent to MRF for training. The Mumbai Ranji Trophy team used the club ground for their net practice that whole year.

Year 2003-04 was again a golden year of achievements as Queensland University team led by veteran Australian Cricket Captain played a friendly game with the Club team led by Mr. Sandeep Patil at our Club ground. Former England captain Graham Gooch and Veteran England all rounder John Embury brought the Essex and Middlesex combined team to play with the club. The New Zealand Women’s Cricket team played a two day game with the Indian President XI Women’s team at our ground.

In the year 2006-07, the highlight was the visit of the three cricketing nation’s great teams namely Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. In the opener, South Africa played against Saurashtra, followed by two games by the New Zealanders against Mumbai and Baroda. The final game was on 15 th October 2006 between Australia and Mumbai which was again a great hit as cricket enthusiast had the opportunity to have a close look at the cricketing greats. Every cricketers dream of playing on English soil was fulfilled as tour Club’s Cricket teams undertook an overseas first ever 20 days tour to UK. When the team returned back the spirit of the youngsters were at their peak.

However due to unforeseen circumstances, the Cricketing season of 2007-08 started on a challenging note as the Committee had to take some urgent steps of rebuilding the team to maintain and detain its superiority in the Senior Division. Again by the mid of this season, due to legal battles our ground was unavailable for a long gap of eight months. The last cricket match played was Women’s Inter Zonal Cricket match of BCCI on 22^nd December 2007. With great enthusiasm, the ground was reopened with the playing of Dr. H.D. Kanga League – 2008 match on 31^st August 2008. Inspite of all this, we emerged as ‘A’ Division champion in the Dr. H.D. Kanga League-2008.

The hosting of these games has definitely enhanced the reputation of the club as one of the finest Cricketing Facility in the City of Mumbai. The recognition has gone far and wide not only nationally but even internationally. Foreign Junior teams especially from UK come all the way to play few matches with our teams and avail the facilities and hospitality of our Club. Even cricket promotional shows by Zee Sports and Star Sports were shot at our ground.