The Assam Cricket Association (ACA) is focusing on developing infrastructure at the grassroots level instead of just holding international matches as showpiece events, its officials said on Sunday.
He said that it is ensuring transparency in all its financial transactions following allegations of monetary misappropriation against the apex cricket body in the state under its former regime.
“We have taken several decisions to boost the cricket infrastructure as well as increase the number of affiliations,” ACA president Romain Dutta said while addressing a press conference at the end of their general body meeting here.
“Finalizations were also given in the meeting to reconnect the state cricket academy and club with our past players, staff and technical staff,” he added.
Elaborating on the decisions, ACA Secretary Devjit Saikia said, “We are looking at developing cricket infrastructure at the grassroots level and bridging the gap at all levels.”
“Our aim is not just to host international matches. Matches are events, but our focus is to strengthen our base and produce top-notch players.”
Saikia said the state will get its next big international match in October based on the rotational system of allocation of matches by the BCCI, although it may be early next March that Guwahati gets its next international match.
He further said that the ACA was not very enthusiastic about hosting international matches due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic as these are often canceled at the last minute or have to be played in front of empty stands.
Saikia said one of the key decisions taken in Sunday’s meeting was to accord affiliation to Majuli, making it the ninth-playing team under the ACA.
He said that the constitution of the State Cricket Academy was also adopted and a committee was constituted under the chairmanship of former player Rajinder Singh to take it forward.
The academy will look after the professional training needs of the cricketers as well as the sports professionals in the state.
ACA secretary said that a residential facility is also being looted with 50 intake under the academy.
Finalization of the ’91 Yards’ club, through which the ACA will reunite and bring together former cricketers, staff and technical experts from the state, was also approved in the meeting, he said.
“ACA has already started several club and district level tournaments. We will organize a university level and an office league early next year.”
Asked whether the alleged financial discrepancies in the ACA during the tenure of the previous executive committee came to the fore in the general body meeting, Saikia said, “There was no discussion on the issue on Sunday. We had an in-depth discussion on this in our previous executive on August 28.”
“Based on our decisions on August 28, which was based on the findings of a committee that looked into these discrepancies, the ACA submitted its report to the police and they have already initiated action,” he said.
Former ACA secretary Pradeep Buragohain was arrested on Wednesday on charges of misappropriation of funds during his tenure from 2016 to 2019 and is currently in police custody.
Saikia further claimed that a transparent accounting mechanism has been put in place, including making it mandatory for the ACA to upload details of any transaction above Rs 1 lakh on its website.
“We are ensuring the cleanliness of the accounts to the best of our ability and if anyone finds any wrongdoing, we would request them to bring it to our notice,” he added.
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