MUMBAI: Even before launching into his maiden domestic season as the Mumbai coach, Amol Muzumdar has chipped in with a 'special knock' for his team. The domestic stalwart, who rescued the Mumbai team many times with his valiant efforts during his epic playing career, played a vital hand in avoiding some major embarrassment for the side.
Owing to excess baggage of 165kg, the Mumbai senior team, returning from its limited overs tour to Oman, was in danger of being 'deboarded' from its Air India flight to Mumbai, at the Muscat Airport to Mumbai before Muzumdar paid off 800 riyal (Rs 1,51,959) towards excess bag charges to the authorities. The team's manager, Arman Mallick chipped in with the remaining 200 riyal (approximately Rs 38,000).
"The MCA Apex Council has decided to reimburse both Muzumdar and Mallick," a source in MCA told TOI on Thursday.
In an email (a copy is with TOI) to the MCA's Apex Council on September 9, Mallick wrote: "Our team had excess baggage while on tour to Oman, but in Mumbai, Mr Satish Samant helped us to clear it without paying a single rupee. At the time of return, our team had the same problem of extra excess weight of 165kg. Ignoring our request, the Airport Air India Oman authority (showed the) guidelines to deboard the whole team from the flight.
"Then I called CS Nayak (Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) Executive secretary) and Sanjay Naik (MCA secretary) for their help and advice. Both instructed me to pay the money (excess baggage charge) which was 1000 Omani riyal and board the flight. Since no one had such a big amount, Muzumdar withdrew 800 riyal, and I had 200 riyal. We paid the excess baggage amount. Therefore, it's requested to look into the matter and do the needful."
Samant is a former Mumbai under-19 coach. Muzumdar was named as the Mumbai senior team's head coach in January. During their Oman tour, Mumbai, led by Shams Mulani, lost the T20 series 1-2, but won the One day series 3-1.
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