Full-fledged Cricket stadium in City soon

Mangalore, June 28: Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has pledged to construct a full-fledged cricket stadium in city, said KSCA Mangalore Zone Chairman Dayanand Pai.

He was addressing a gathering during the prize distribution ceremony of First division league championship 2010-11 at Mangalore Club in city on Tuesday. “It is sad that Mangalore, which has all the other facilities, lacks a turf pitch and stadium.

The Association is striving hard to find land. We are assuring the cricket lovers in Mangalore that the stadium will be a reality soon,” he said. “Many business groups are coming forward to support us in this venture. We also have the hope that Chief Minister, who is from this area, will help in our efforts,” he added.

He also extended his support in providing scholarships for the financially backward talented cricket players from the city.

KSCA coordinator to Mangalore Zone A V Shashidar said that the RC (Royal Challengers)-KSCA Cricket Academy will soon function in Mangalore at Adyar Sahyadri College. He said that lack of infrastructure obstructs the development of cricket and cricketers in the city.

“Compared to other moffusil zones of KSCA, Mangalore has much more talented players who could well represent the state in national level. But the irony is that other zones have better facilities than Mangalore, but development is in slow pace,” he said.

A V Shashidar said that cricket development is not only concentrated in Bangalore nowadays. “Earlier if anyone wanted to get recognition in cricket, one had to play in Bangalore.

But now KSCA is providing all facilities at moffusil zones too. For the first time, moffusil teams are getting prize money in first division league. KSCA has allotted total prize money of Rs 27 lakh for the moffusil zones. Now all the moffusil zones of KSCA are having full-fledged cricket academies.

KSCA Mangalore Zone Convener Dr Srikanth Rai opined that the cricket in schools should get more importance. “As far as the game is concerned, development should take place from the grassroots. Schools are the best places to find out the budding talents.

We are already having school cricket tournament, which comprises of teams from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kodagu,” he said. Apart from school tourney, KSCA will also start cricket tournaments for Colleges in the Zone soon.

City Cricketers, the champions of the First Division Cricket Championship received a cash prize of Rs 75000 during the function.

Runners-Up Dakshina Kannada Cricket Association was given away a cash prize of Rs 60000 while Mangalore Sports Club and Mangalore Occasionals shared prize money of Rs 30000 each during the prize distribution ceremony.

Sachin Kumar (207 runs from 5 matches) and Sampath Kumar (16 wickets from 5 matches) were awarded best batsman and best bowler. KSCA Mangalore Zone Chairman Dayanand Pai and KSCA coordinator to Mangalore Zone A V Shashidar distributed the prizes.