Controversial? Olympian questions Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum naming – ‘Wish it was named after a cricketer’ | Cricket News – Times of India

Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar, NCP-SP chief and MP Shared Pawar and Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) President Ajinkya Naik throughout the inauguration of the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum at Wankhede Stadium (PTI Photo/Shashank Parade)

The Mumbai Cricket Association’s (MCA) on Saturday inaugurated the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum at Wankhede Stadium has been praised for its beautiful design and world-class displays — however not with out sparking a dialog about its naming. Former Indian hockey captain and Olympian Viren Rasquinha shared his candid ideas on X, writing: “Looks stunning. Only wish it had been named after a cricket player.”The museum, spanning over 8,000 sq. ft., celebrates Mumbai’s unparalleled contribution to Indian and world cricket. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Visitors are greeted by life-measurement statues of Sharad Pawar, the celebrated administrator, and Sunil Gavaskar, cricketing icon. Inside, interactive shows, digital recreations, and uncommon memorabilia take followers by way of Mumbai’s cricketing historical past, from legendary gamers to directors and ladies’s cricket milestones.Rasquinha’s comment displays a sentiment shared by many within the cricketing neighborhood: whereas administrative management is important, some really feel that museums devoted to cricket heritage ought to primarily honour the gamers who formed the sport on the sector. His remark sparked debates on-line concerning the steadiness between celebrating directors and athletes in cricket’s legacy.Sharad Pawar, the museum’s namesake, expressed pleasure within the initiative, calling it a tribute to Mumbai’s journey from native maidans to world arenas. Sunil Gavaskar highlighted the museum’s digital options, saying that recreations enable future generations to attach with eras of cricket earlier than tv protection. MCA President Ajinkya Naik and Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Ashish Shelar additionally praised the museum, emphasising its position in preserving Mumbai’s cricketing historical past and provoking younger gamers. As the museum opens to the general public from September 22, 2025, it guarantees each inspiration and dialog, celebrating Mumbai cricket whereas prompting reflection on how the game’s heroes are honoured.