Man with a mission

One singular man with a singular act transformed the thought-process of Indian cricket forever. He conceived the concept of talent-spotting by going deep into the interiors of this wide and wonderful land of ours. No one earlier had thought of this idea. People in cities waited for talents to come to them. Makarand Waingankar thought otherwise. Who had time for village and small-town talents earlier?

Who’s this fella giving gyaan to Indian cricket administrators? The corporate marketing job took the bright gentleman to the districts and beyond. His liberal, social-minded soul hit upon the novel idea and the freelance journalist in him put forward his view to BCCI and KSCA.

Thankfully both Brijesh Patel of KSCA and Prof Ratnakar Shetty – the man who cleaned the cobwebs at BCCI and made it a happening place – were quick to grasp the excellent proposal. Shetty brought some very sincere Talent Resource Development Officers (TRDOs) under the BCCI fold and sent them on the discovery trail.  Almost overnight players from non-fancied areas began to be identified and rewarded. Men like MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Irfan Pathan are prime examples.

Mack in time acted as a mentor to players who faced serious problems. The youthful Yuvraj Singh was a beneficiary. Even non-Test players benefitted from his acquaintance in their respective careers. Young players like Gautam Som and Subhasis Das, both from Bengal, come readily to mind.

Mack has no remarkable cricket background as an active player. Does not belong to any influential media-house.  Has no powerful administrator beside him. But he has a mind of his own.

Has the courage of conviction. An appetite for knowledge and the spirit of innovation. The independent mind of a bright soul: a warrior true to his mission.

 

I first met him in the press enclosure at Feroz Shah Kotla in the mid-1980s. It was a peculiar kind of rapport at first sight. He had not seen me play (thank God), but had read my articles in Tiger Pataudi-edited Sportsworld.

Unsmiling, the firm voice asked, ”Can we please use your articles for our Marathi cricket fortnightly?”  Even I, a poor judge of people, could see the sincerity and the integrity in that tall, confident frame of his. Taking permission from ABP, I gave consent. This was one judgement, I am proud to say I did right!

Waingankar and Pappu Sanzgiri became involved with Sandip Patil’s cricket fortnightly Ekach Shatkar. The magazine put to shade even established English sports magazines in Marathi-speaking regions. Since then Mack has gone from peak to peak in his own individual style and route.

Mack has cricket printed on his heart. Initially in Marathi journalism he brought about a silent revolution which rose to a crescendo that reverberated around the country. His writings and books in English have added dimensions to the history of the game in the country. While on a short sabbatical, he finished his Ph.D on cricket.

Today as I sit and write this blog I realize that I am 76 and still need someone to push me out of my lethargy. Mack did that job with ease. “You have rested throughout 2024 and 2025. Now do start again for the sake of only those who genuinely love cricket.” I thought he was right. Thanks, Mack.