Zonal academy to come up at Chidambaram stadium
The National Cricket Academy was launched in Bangalore on May 1
Partab Ramchand
02-Feb-2001
The National Cricket Academy was launched in Bangalore on May 1. But
very soon Chennai laid a claim to hosting the NCA, thanks to an offer
of ground to be made available by the Tamil Nadu government in the
suburbs. However with the Karnataka government making a similar offer,
it was always on the cards that Bangalore would stay as the home of
the NCA, given the built in advantages of better weather and ready
infrastructure.
But Chennai was always the favourite as the venue to host the Zonal
branch of the NCA. And now things are getting into place for the
southern metropolis hosting the zonal academy at the MA Chidambaram
stadium.
In fact, Ashok Kumbhat, secretary, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, is
confident that the zonal academy will start functioning in April.
Talking to CricInfo on Friday, he said that the two-member committee
of former Indian cricketers, Polly Umrigar and Brijesh Patel, who are
consultant and coordinator of the NCA inspected the existing
facilities at the stadium on Wednesday.
"They were more than happy with the facilities available. What is
lacking among the list of items required for the academy is a swimming
Pool," he said.
While the swimming pool could be got ready only after obtaining the
sanction of the TNCA executive committee, a gymnasium and rooms to
accommodate 25 trainees drawn from the six southern state units of the
BCCI would be built soon, Kumbhat said.
Umrigar and Patel also insisted on visiting the accommodation where
the boys are likely to be housed. They also inspected a warehouse to
store academy property, according to Kumbhat. Where the practice
pitches are concerned, the TNCA is more than well equipped. While only
four practice pitches are needed for the academy, the TNCA has eight
such wickets.
Meanwhile, G Kasturirangan and Dhiraj Parsana, members of the pitch
committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India visited the
Chidambaram stadium on Friday in connection with the conduct of the
third Test match between India and Australia to be played from March
18 to 22. According to Kumbhat, they expressed satisfaction with the
pitch and the facilities at the ground.