The boost for Nagaland
• Indoor academy at SCS
• A new BCCI funded stadium
• Regional junior level tourneys
Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 31
BCCI president, Anurag Thakur on Tuesday shared a dream of taking the game of cricket in the North East Region to the next level. Two weeks since taking over charge of the cash-rich Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Thakur landed in Dimapur as part of a whirlwind tour of the northeast igniting hopes of transforming the standard of cricket in the region, which was no less than a pariah in Indian cricket. His itinerary includes a trip to Shillong and then to Guwahati.
“In the next couple of years, we can create a new success story as far as cricket in the northeast is concerned,” declared Thakur. Taking his home state Himachal Pradesh as an exemplar, Thakur highlighted how, from “seven chairs, one iron cupboard and one typewriter,” cricket in hilly Himachal has transformed to now having 5-6 stadiums and its teams making remarkable stride in the national circuit in a little over a decade.
According to him, the state of cricket in Himachal was no better a few years ago than it is here (northeast) now. From a hill state himself, Thakur expressed empathy with the problems faced by NE associates representing hill states.
The significant changes expected to affect the sport in the region will include a new format of junior competition. According to Thakur, the BCCI will introduce junior level tournaments exclusively for affiliates (not full-fledged members) in the region. Giving a broad outline of how it will work, he said the affiliate teams would compete among themselves. Players at the tournaments will be picked by BCCI selectors to make regional teams. These teams will then compete in national level tournaments allowing the young players to get professional and regular playing experience.
Further, making a Nagaland specific announcement, Thakur said a full-fledged “indoor academy” will be established at the Sovima Cricket Stadium (SCS) within a year’s time. This was in response to Lok Sabha MP and Nagaland Cricket Association president, Neiphiu Rio appealing for a ‘centre of excellence’ for cricket in Dimapur in the form of a regional academy under BCCI sponsorship.
On infrastructure, the BCCI president said that first priority should be to create a playing field, dressing rooms and academy. “I think you have taken the right steps,” he added referring to the facilities available at the SCS. The Board will also ensure that the stadium get ground equipments equivalent in quality provided to other stadiums in the country, he informed. In addition, Thakur also proposed a new stadium, fully funded by the BCCI. To this, the NCA was asked to find and provide land. According to Thakur, the BCCI want to make a stadium each in every state of northeast complete with indoor academy.
On the pending funds for affiliates from the region, he asked for a comprehensive audit report after which funds will be released within 15 days.
On the Lodha Committee recommendation, Thakur held that some of the suggestions are not even practical. Limiting advertisements will affect revenue generation, which ultimately will affect the development of the game and the players, he said. On the ‘one-vote for every state association’ recommendation and demand by state affiliates for full-fledged membership and voting rights, Thakur’s comment was ambiguous. “I’m sure the Supreme Court will look into what is implementable and what should not be considered.” He though said that he was looking forward to NCA becoming a full BCCI member.
