Another bidder for BCCI's National Academy
With merely five weeks left for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to have its first National Academy inaugurated at Bangalore, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) too has evinced interest to have an academy within their
Bipin Dani
24-Mar-2000
With merely five weeks left for the Board of Control for Cricket in
India (BCCI) to have its first National Academy inaugurated at
Bangalore, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) too has evinced
interest to have an academy within their jurisdiction, it is reliably
learnt.
Speaking to this correspondent over telephone from his Chennai
residence, Ashok Kumbhat, the TNCA secretary stated, ``we have written
a letter to the state government to allot on lease, a 70-80 acre plot
in Sholinganallur, some 22 kilometres from Chennai to enable us to
provide facilities for the academy. If our proposal is approved by the
government, we will forward our case to the BCCI for consideration''.
But how realistic is Chennai's chance to be the venue for the academy
given the fact that the blue-print of the proposed academy in
Bangalore has almost been finalised? Kumbhat was quite
forthright. ``The academy at Bangalore's Chinnaswamy Stadium can
easily be shifted after a year or so to Chennai''.
Incidentally, the BCCI president AC Muthiah is also the TNCA
president. However, the TNCA's offer to have the National Academy in
Chennai is not likely to be accepted.
On learning about the TNCA's bid to host the National Academy, the
former Test cricketer and Karnataka State Cricket Association
secretary Brijesh Patel is said to have offered BCCI a fresh plot of
land for this purpose. When contacted, Patel refused to comment on the
subject and merely said, ``you can ask the Board secretary''.
Former BCCI president Raj Singh Dungarpur seems to be determined to
commence the academy from May 1. He, in consultation with other BCCI
officials, are to decide the names of the director and the
coaches. However, since Dungarpur is in Sharjah, the announcement is
likely to be delayed.