Mumbai Cricket Association president Amol Kale passes away

Amol Kale, the president of the Mumbai Cricket Association, tragically passed away due to a cardiac arrest shortly after witnessing the T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Pakistan at the New York stadium on Sunday. His sudden demise has sent shockwaves through the cricket community, prompting an outpouring of condolences.

Accompanied by Mumbai cricket board secretary Ajinkya Naik and another official, Kale attended the match at the Nassau County Cricket Ground.

Having assumed the presidency in 2022 after defeating former cricketer Sandip Patil in the MCA elections, the 47-year-old Kale was a prominent figure in Indian cricket. He was known for his close association with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Originally from Nagpur, Kale had established himself as a first-generation businessman in Mumbai over the past decade.

Kale's contributions to cricket extended beyond administration. He played a pivotal role in increasing the match fee for senior domestic cricketers in Mumbai for the upcoming 2024-25 season, aligning with the BCCI's decision to double domestic players' match fees. Kale was a vocal advocate for the promotion of red-ball cricket. Under his leadership, the MCA had earlier announced a substantial prize money of Rs 5 crore for the victorious Ranji Trophy team from the 2023-24 season.