City’s BCB chief curator Hinganikar back, in quarantine
| Date :14-May-2020 |
all alone: Praveen Hinganikar has been housed at Hotel Orient Grand near Ashok Square at Ghat Road.
By Anupam Soni :
FORMER Vidarbha Ranji Trophy skipper Praveen Hinganikar, who is presently Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Chief Curator, has safely returned to the city and has been put up in quarantine as it is mandatory for people coming from abroad. After being in lockdown in Chittagong for about 40 days, Hinganikar was among the lucky few who returned to their native places when the restricted international flight services resumed. “First two flights were for Delhi but I could not get accommodated there as they were preferring Delhi people only. I got a place in the third one that was meant to land at Mumbai.
It had 109 passengers and all belonged to Maharashtra only,” said Hinganikar while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ on Wednesday. Hinganikar landed in Mumbai and arrived in the city by a private car late on Tuesday night. “Not home but at a hotel. They (the authorities) have not said anything about the time for which they will keep me. No tests were conducted today. They will conduct tests probably on Thursday and will inform me after checking the reports.
Presently, I have been put up at Hotel Orient Grand near Ashok Square at Ghat Road,” said Hinganikar about his whereabouts. “For almost 40 days I was there in my flat only in Chittagong. From March 26, I was there in the lockdown. Everything was closed, there were no flights so nobody could leave. Borders were sealed and there was no chance to leave the country,” he said. “I have not met family members yet. I was to report to SDO Mr Shekhar Ghadge after reaching Nagpur. He took all details from me and sent me here with an escort from the Collector’s Office directly to the hotel room with single occupancy. The facilities including food are good. The only restrictions are that I cannot go out or meet anybody till tests and other formalities are completed. By god’s grace I am fit and fine,” said Hinganikar, who has been the chief curator of Vidarbha Cricket Association for a long time.
Bangladesh’s development coach and former First-Class cricketer Ashiqur Rahman has tested positive for the dreaded novel coronavirus, an agency reported on Wednesday. “Yes, I know him. He was also the coach of women’s team. I confirmed that he is positive. But I had no relation with him as I was in Chittagong and he is based in Dhaka,” said Hinganikar on a BCB employee being affected by the virus. Hinganikar was in isolation for a long time in Bangladesh. “Dhaka Premier League ended on March 22 and after that all cricketing activities were over. Nobody was in touch with me. Bangladesh National Cricket League ended in February and my contacts with players ended there. No cricket happened at my both of my centres — Chittagong and Cox Bazaar,” he explained. Hinganikar went to Bangladesh on a two-year contract. “Time has flown very fast.
I have completed my first contract of two years and the BCB has renewed it for a further period of two years. The job is very good and people here including the board members are very co-operative. In fact, they treat me as one of their own. There is no problem at all,” he said in praise of his employers and subordinates. “BCB has agreed to let us go back but has asked to return once the season starts and the borders are opened and lockdown is over. Presently our job is just to maintain the ground in good condition. They have asked me to be in regular touch with the assistant curator and to take updates from him and guide him suitably. If the ground is well maintained they have no problem. There is no other Indian in my staff,” he concluded.