Mumbai, Nov 14: Mumbai Cricket Association and Cricket New South Wales on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further ties between both state associations.

Prof RS Shetty, Vice President of MCA and CAO of BCCI; Mr Barry O'Farrell, Hon. Premier, New South Wales; Dr G K Harinath, Chairman, Cricket New South Wales; Dr PV Shetty, Hon. Jt. Secretary of the MCA and Mr. Nitin Dalal, Hon. Jt Secretary of the MCA were present on the occasion.

Explaining the significance of the new alliance Prof. Shetty said, “Dr. Harinath has been following this since 2008 and I am very happy that this occasion has come [to pass] today. To have the Premier of New South Wales with us to witness this occasion is indeed a great privilege. Coaching facilities, for example, is one area that we are looking forward to [and] an exchange of men and women teams over a period of time. More importantly, a T20 match has been agreed upon between New South Wales and Mumbai Cricket Association. This will be played every two years and alternately in Mumbai and Sydney. The first edition of this tournament, or this cup, will be played in Sydney next year in 2012.”

He added, “I am sure that this will take things forward in improving relations further [between the two associations]. It’s a great feeling for us […] It’s a continuous development of relations that we are looking at. ”

The Australian State of New South Wales and the Indian metropolis of Mumbai both have an illustrious cricket history. Both have given the game some great cricketers like Sir Don Bradman, Sunil Gavaskar, Allan Border, Sachin Tendulkar, Steve Waugh. Both teams have dominated the domestic competition of their respective countries; NSW have won the Sheffield Shield 45 times while Mumbai have won the Ranji Trophy 39 times.

Dr. Harinath expressed his excitement at the new tie-up saying, “Cricket New South Wales is delighted to enter into partnership with Mumbai Cricket Association. […] The government of New South Wales have announced a trophy for a new biennial series to be played between Cricket New South Wales and Mumbai Cricket Association and are extremely pleased that Mark Taylor has agreed to put his name to the trophy. We are waiting for Mumbai Cricket Association to nominate a person to the trophy.

“We have a range of activities like coaching, development, junior cricket, women’s cricket, which is very important to both the countries, and cricket administration, alongside a range of other activities which will benefit both these countries and both the regions of the respective countries,” he elaborated.

Prof. Shetty added, “We will have another name [in addition to that of] Mark Taylor very soon [to christen the] trophy for the bi-annual event between Mumbai Cricket Association and the New South Wales.”

After the signing of the MoU, the NSW Premier addressed the gathering saying, “I can’t say how pleased I am to be here to witness this historic signing of the Memorandum of Understanding […] Sport, particularly cricket, has been a strong binding influence between both cultures; it’s also one that I know in this country, and also in Australia, is the basis of lasting commercial ties, so we are keen to develop that. But it’s the cultural ties that are most important […] the people-to-people ties […]; so I am pleased to be here for all of those reasons. ”

To round off the ceremony, the NSW Premier presented cricket kits, memorabilia and gifts from the Don Bradman foundation to underprivileged children receiving cricket training at the Salaam Bombay Foundation.