Dimapur, May 2 (MExN): Lok Sabha MP from Nagaland state, Neiphiu Rio has appealed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for greater support for the promotion of cricket in the north-east. Rio, who is the convenor of the North East Cricket Development Committee (NECDC), in a letter to the BCCI Honorary Secretary, Anurag Thakur while highlighting the problems and challenges confronting cricket associations in the region stated the urgent need for “strategic programmes” for the development of the game at all levels in the north-east.
Informing of a meeting of NECDC held on April 23 in Dimapur, which was attended by the respective cricket associations of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Nagaland, Rio stated that the members in the meeting expressed the need for more cricket activities, improvement of infrastructure and logistics support from the BCCI in the region.
The meeting also resolved to submit an 8-point memorandum to the BCCI, the contents of which was incorporated in the letter. The memorandum while calling for sufficient fund assistance for New Area Development Programme (NADP) state associations, requested the BCCI “to consider the difficulties of the north eastern states and take into account ‘one state-one vote’ recommendation, enabling the NADP States to become full-fledged members of the BCCI.”
As regards “some members of the BCCI” alleging that “there was no presence of cricket in the north east and that the associations were not making efforts to promote the game”, the memorandum maintained that due to a lack adequate infrastructure and financial assistance “the activities and initiatives of the state associations were greatly restricted.”
“We feel the need for BCCI to intervene and advice other member states to refrain from making unsubstantiated and untrue allegations against BCCI member states of north east on cricketing activities…” it added.
While reiterating the support and cooperation of the NE state associations, the memorandum expressed confidence that the BCCI would extend all possible help to the region as equal and contributing members of Indian cricket.
Outlining the circumstances that led to the formation of the NECDC, it stated that it was the result of a need to pursue the development and promotion of the game in a collective manner “within the rules and guidelines of BCCI.”
It further appealed for granting affiliation to Mizoram, which is the only NE state without BCCI membership.
