BCCI to ?play? for AU

GOLDEN DAYS of cricket on the Allahabad University (AU) campus seems all set for a return promising to usher in a new era of success for the 'Men in Whites'. In a unique gesture, the Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) has come forward with a proposal to promote cricket in the Central varsities. Sources inform that as per the plans, the BCCI is planning to select two Central universities from the North zone to promote and support cricket .

GOLDEN DAYS of cricket on the Allahabad University (AU) campus seems all set for a return promising to usher in a new era of success for the 'Men in Whites'. In a unique gesture, the Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) has come forward with a proposal to promote cricket in the Central varsities.

Sources inform that as per the plans, the BCCI is planning to select two Central universities from the North zone to promote and support cricket and Allahabad University officials have been asked to submit details of facilities and the problems existing on the campus to the BCCI by September 30.

Varsity officials inform that a high-level meeting of BCCI and Association of Indian University's Inter University Sports Board of India officials was held at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) between May 18-19, 2006 during which discussions on promoting and improving cricket on university campuses were held in detail.

BCCI is believed to have put forth a proposal under which it would promote and support cricket on campuses of 10 universities of the country and even extend financial help in the first phase of the initiative. It was also resolved that two universities from each of the five zones will be selected under the scheme.

Sources say that as per the agreements of the meeting, a BCCI letter dated August 22, 2006 has now been sent to AU by the member secretary of the AIU's Inter University Sports Board of India Gurdeep Singh and the varsity is to provide sought details to the Board by September 30.

Through the letter, the varsity has been asked to provide details like condition of cricket ground, dressing room, pavilion stand, players and Umpires' rooms, condition of pitch, availability of heavy roller ands sprinklers.

The university has also been asked to inform about the available equipment, training facility, gymnasium, sight screen and the arrangement of lighting of the ground. It is to be recalled that BCCI had come under criticism from various quarters for earning huge sums through cricket but doing nothing to promote and improve cricket in the country. The BCCI initiative is believed to refute such very charges. Secretary of AU Athletic Association, the body supervises and controls all sporting activities on the campus including cricket, Prof RK Upadhyaya said that AU has enough space for the extension of the ground and the facilities needed. He conceded that this was the best opportunity to revive cricket at AU and take it to new heights. "No stones will be left unturned in this regard," he promised.

International cricket commentator and AU's Chief Public Information Officer Prof Amrendra Singh said that the varsity is determined to present its case strongly.

"We have a history of producing good cricketers and have also produced great gymnasts and badminton players among others. The plan is to convince all that AU is the best place for such an investment that will promote cricket as well as other sports too," he said.