Mumbai Cricket Association introduces central contracts for players, launches inter-college tournament

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has decided to introduce central contracts for the players to provide structured support and financial security to emerging talent.

Four years ago, the association had, ‘in principle’, decided to introduce a graded contract system for players and send it to the Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC) to work out the operational details and modalities for the scheme in order to implement.

However, things seem to have finally worked out as the apex council, on Wednesday, decided to start the central contract system.

“Central contracts are a step towards empowering players with stability and confidence, while the T20 scouting tournament will ensure that Mumbai continues to identify and nurture talent suited for the future of the game,” MCA president Ajinkya Naik said.

Among other major decisions, the MCA decided to start an inter-collegiate tournament named after former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar, celebrating excellence, leadership and the enduring legacy of Mumbai cricket. The tournament will serve as a vital platform for nurturing young talent at the collegiate level.

“Our vision is to create a robust pathway from college cricket to the highest levels of the game. Naming the Inter-College Tournament after Dilip Vengsarkar reflects the values of excellence and leadership that we want young cricketers to aspire to,” Naik added.

The apex council also decided to start a dedicated T20 scouting tournament, keeping up with the evolving demands of modern cricket. According to the association, the tournament will be conducted as a dedicated scouting platform for the T20 Mumbai League, creating a clear and merit-based pathway for young players to progress to elite competitive levels.

Published on Jan 14, 2026