The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) will award rupees one lakh apiece to forty-eight groundsmen for their contributions during the Indian Premier League (IPL). The plan is expected to be approved at the MCA’s Apex Council meeting.
For the last two months, 10 IPL teams have called the three venues – MCA-Wankhede Stadium, MCA-BKC Ground, and DY Patil Stadium – home. The MCA-BKC served as a practice site for four teams on a regular basis, while the two stadiums – Wankhede and DY Patil – hosted IPL league games.
Mumbai Cricket Association believed that the groundsmen deserved a special prize for their hard work during the summer. To prepare to practice and match pitches, several groundskeepers worked midnight hours.
Despite matches being played every day in the sweltering April-May heat, the Mumbai Cricket Association was glad to receive no complaints regarding the fields.
During the tournament, the MCA had partnered with a private corporation called Cadbury, which allowed Wankhede Stadium’s groundsmen to reside in a five-star hotel. On match days, the firm took care of the hotel and transportation.
Vasant Mohite, a 57-year-old groundskeeper at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, previously told this publication that in previous IPL seasons, they would spend the evenings in a cramped room inside the stadium, where bugs made sleeping impossible. “Machhar kaat ke manne bad kar kar hai (Mosquitoes will drive us mad). We could not go anywhere after the match as train services were suspended.
The Indian board has already promised a 1.25 crore cash award for curators. “We’ve seen some high-octane games, and I’d want to congratulate each and every one of them for their efforts.” CCI, Wankhede, DY Patil, and Mumbai Cricket Association, Pune each received a sum of Rs. 25 lakh. “Eden and Narendra Modi stadiums will each receive $12.5 million,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said.
Mumbai Cricket Association will award a lakh to each of the 48 groundsmen
