MCA president Vilasrao Deshmukh dies aged 67

Vilasrao Deshmukh, the former Maharashtra chief minister and president of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), has died aged 67 in Chennai following multiple organ failure. Deshmukh was also serving as a minister for science and technology in the federal government.

Deshmukh was nominated MCA president in July 2011, edging out the former India batsman Dilip Vengsarkar in the elections. It continued the two-decade long trend of a politician heading the body. He had earlier served as the vice-president of the body from 2009-11 and was also chairman of the BCCI's Media Committee for 2011-12.

Deshmukh was in charge of the MCA when it banned Shah Rukh Khan, the Kolkata Knight Riders owner, from entering Wankhede Stadium for five years as a result of his scuffle with security guards after the game between Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians on May 16 this year.

"Mr Deshmukh, even when he was not an office bearer of Mumbai Cricket Association, was always there to help Mumbai Cricket Association whether it was the setting up of the MCA Recreation Centre or the redevelopment of the Wankhede Stadium," Prof Ratnakar Shetty, vice-president of the MCA, said.