Cricket call for football fief

The Mining Ground in Sikkim's Rangpo

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, Sep 07, 2018, Gangtok: Cricket in Sikkim is expected to get a massive boost with the Sikkim Cricket Association (SCA) all set to augment facilities at the Mining Ground near Rangpo following chief minister Pawan Chamling's decision to extend the leasehold of the ground to the association by 40 years.

The lease extension comes a month after the SCA was granted full membership of the cash-rich Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is expected to pump in funds for the development of the game in the Himalayan state which, otherwise has earned its spurs in football.

Lobzang G. Tenzing, the SCA president, said it was imperative to have an extended lease - at least for 35 years - of the ground in order to be eligible to receive BCCI funds for infrastructure development. "Now that we are a full member of the BCCI, fund flows will not be a problem. Not just the Mining Ground, we will be developing cricket all over the districts," he said.

The government, averred cricket lovers, too, can do its bit by providing grounds in different districts to spread cricket in every nook and cranny of the state. "The sport has been gaining in popularity with some junior players even reaching the national stage. We also have in Kikam Bhutia a women's coach who is making a mark nationally. Setting up of proper infrastructure will allow more youngsters to take to cricket," said a former cricketer.

Tenzing said to begin with the SCA will lay seven proper cricket pitches at the Mining Ground. "We plan to set up seven pitches which will be sand-based. There will also be proper drainage system so that the ground can be dried up within half-an-hour (of the rains stopping)," he said, adding that the BCCI will also be providing equipment worth Rs 2 crore for the ground.

In subsequent years, the SCA plans to construct galleries, swimming pool, administrative office and also set up a cricket academy. "Like I said, funds will not be a problem," he said.

Roshan Prasad, the spokesman of SCA, said the 14 premier tournaments Sikkim will be participating in includes the Ranji Trophy. For the Ranji Trophy, Sikkim has been placed in the plate division where it will lock horns with teams from other north-eastern states, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Puddichery. All these states were also granted full BCCI membership last month.

Post-full membership, the first tournament Sikkim will take part in is the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which will be held in Gujarat later this month.