S. K. Wankhede

Sheshrao Krishnarao Wankhede (24 September 1914 in Nagpur – 30 January 1988 in Mumbai) was a cricket administrator and politician.

Wankhede had his early college education in Nagpur and entered the bar in England.

On his return, he started practice in Nagpur.

In the 1940s, he entered politics and was jailed for taking part in the Indian freedom struggle.

He was elected to the Madhya Pradesh State assembly in 1952 and served as the deputy speaker of Bilingual Bombay State from 23 November 1956 to 5 April 1957.

He was elected from Kalmeshwar in 1957 elections to the Bombay State and in 1962 and 1967 to the Maharashtra Assembly.

He led the Bombay Cricket Association from 1963-64 till his death.

He also chaired various other sporting bodies.

He was an agriculturist and businessman by profession.

The Bombay Cricket Association (BCA) had persistent disputes with the Cricket Club of India over ticketing revenues from Brabourne Stadium, which is owned by CCI.

In 1967, he was a member of the Indian delegation that took part in the 22nd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

After a particularly bitter dispute in the early 1970s, the BCA decided to build a stadium of its own in Mumbai.

Built under his leadership, it is now named after him as Wankhede Stadium, and is a prominent international cricketing venue.

He was the Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly between 22 March 1972 till 20 April 1977.

Wankhede was also the mayor of Nagpur for three years.

Wankhede was the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India from 1980-81 to 1982-83, and the Vice president from 1972-73 to 1979-80.

It is told that Mr. Wankhede went to watch the India vs Zimbabwe match of the 1983 World Cup at Tunbridge Wells.

Seeing India at 17 for 5, Wankhede asked his Indian taxi driver to keep the meter running.

Later, after Kapil Dev's onslaught of unbeaten 175, a world record then, and India defeating Zimbabwe, it is said that Wankhede paid 300 pounds for that taxi ride.

This has been captured in 83 movie starring Ranveer Singh.