Former Maharashtra chief minister Sharad Pawar was on Friday night declared elected President of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) defeating former India skipper and coach Ajit Wadekar, MCA sources said. The fiercely-contested elections evoked nation-wide interest, after Pawar, President of Nationalist Congress Party, decided to contest the post of the prestigious cricket body, with a membership of about 330 clubs, associations and gymkhanas, which was earlier headed by Union Minister for Heavy Industries Manohar Joshi. Pawar, who is also Chairman of Garware Club, situated in MCA premises, had earlier said that he was in the fray to ease strained relations between MCA and the club and opined that politicians like him could certainly play an effective role in putting the house in order. In the run-up to the elections, Wadekar had sought police protection after his driver was beaten up on Wednesday near his Worli residence. Bureau Report