GB approves ACA’s plans for season

Date for AGM left to be decided later

Our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI, June 10: Governing body of the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) today gave its green signals to the plans which the Association chalked out for the forthcoming season.

The preparations will kick off with the fitness camp of Ranji probables at the SAI Centre from June 18. It would be followed by the constitution of the selection panel, selection of coaches and managers of the different teams for national-level competitions along with the preparation of forthcoming ODI between India and West Indies slated to be held in October at the ACA ground, Barsapara.

A meeting of the governing body under the chairmanship of Ramen Dutta, the vice president of the ACA, was held today at the ACA office, Barsapara. Apart from accepting the finance committee report of the last financial year the meeting discussed in details the preparations for the forthcoming season. Although the date of the next AGM of the ACA was supposed to be finalized in the meeting, the issue was left to be decided later. The GB meeting also approved the proposed budget of the association for the next year which will be around Rs 27 crore.

Talking to the media persons just after the governing body meeting, ACA Secretary Pradip Buragohain said, “It has been decided that the venue of the next AGM will be Guwahati but the date is not finalized yet. It will be decided later.”

However, the GB today authorized the secretary to do the day-to-day activities related to the preparations for the forthcoming cricket season and the ODI. But the entire decision would be ratified in the next AGM of the association.

Disclosing the next season’s plan, the secretary said, “Last year our performance in the Ranji Trophy was not satisfactory. So this time we should start our preparation little early with a fitness camp which will kick off on June 18 at the SAI complex. At the same time, advertisement will be released in newspapers for coaches of state teams.

“We will also organize a level ‘A’ coaches course at Golaghat from June 18. Both men and women cricketers can participate in the course,” said Buragohain.

Meanwhile, the ACA is unhappy with a few decisions that were taken by a section of coaches and selectors of different state teams during the last cricket season. The association has decided to enquire into the matter and also constituted a committee with Jamshed Khan as its chairman. Sharing the news in this regard, Buragohain said, “Last year a cricketer failed to play a single game in the entire season even though he was with the state team in altogether 12 matches. On the other hand, another cricketer got the opportunity to turn up for the state team without playing any district-level competition. We’ve taken the matter seriously and constitute a committee to enquire into both the matters so that such incidents don’t repeat next year.”

Meanwhile, the ACA has almost finalized formalities with the authorities of the two institutions for the use of their ground in future. Among the two grounds, one is at Mirza and the other one is at Gauhati University. Buragohain said that both the grounds would be developed by the ACA with its own fund and will use according to the necessity. The ACA also deiced to stop the U-13 Inter District Cricket tournament from the next year and it will be replaced by a U-14 Inter District Cricket championship.