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 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.