MCA refuses scholarship to cricket’s ‘wonder boy’ Pranav Dhanawade

State coach Mobin Shaikh also dropped the teenager during the MCA selection trials match recently.

By Chandra Moulee Das

Updated - 04 Jul 2017, 13:37 IST

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Mumbai’s Pranav Dhanawade who shot to limelight after becoming the world’s maiden batsman to score thousand-plus runs in an innings suffered a reality check. Following his impeccable knock of 1009 runs in a school match, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) last year awarded him a scholarship of Rs.10,000 a month for five years. However, after getting the first year’s scholarship from MCA, Dhanawade’s family did not yet receive any further grant from the Association for this year.

The MCA has now revealed that it will review Dhanawade’s performance before giving out the second year’s scholarship. The 17-year-old has run into some ill fate despite making the cut amongst the 78 players selected for MCA U-19 selection trials. He failed to make to make it to the 35 selected for the U-19 off-season training camp at the Bandra Kurla Complex ground.

His coach Mobin Shaikh also dropped the teenager ahead of the MCA selection trials match recently. Apart from the financial strain, Pranav has also voiced about the dearth of a proper practice arena.

MCA joint secretary Unmesh Khanvilkar was quoted as saying to Hindustan Times, “When the scholarship was awarded, it was mentioned that the MCA will review his performance after every season before proceeding for next season’s scholarship. The review has not yet taken place. Once it is done, it will be placed before the managing committee to take a call on whether to continue or not.”

Parallels from the past

Almost a year after he shot into international limelight by scoring a world record 1009* runs, he was caught by the collar of his jersey and detained in a police lockup for more than an hour. Dhanawade’s offence was that he made a small delay to vacate the ground he has practised for the last 10-12 years, for a Minister’s chopper to land.

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