Guwahati, May 17: The Assam Cricket Association (ACA) has resolved to give a major facelift to cricket at the school level by starting an inter-district tournament from the current calendar year.

At its governing body meeting held in Nagaon on Sunday, the ACA decided to take the initiative to organise an under-15 school tournament on a zonal basis with the finals in Guwahati.

The apex cricket body, however, preferred to keep a distance from the under-17 level, as the age group involves players from colleges.

The respective universities are in charge of organising tournaments for colleges under their jurisdiction.

The proposal to hold a school tournament was adopted at the governing body meeting held in Barpeta last year.

The cricket body will take the help of the directorate of sports and youth welfare to organise the meet at the district level. ?Since it is not feasible for the ACA to organise the entire tournament involving at least 30 teams at one venue, we will have to bank on the directorate of sports,? ACA secretary Bikash Baruah said, adding that the basic idea was to catch them young.

ACA treasurer Ghanashyam Boruah said the winning teams from the districts would be divided into two zones and the zonal tournaments would be organised at venues under the district sports associations.

Boruah said the winners and the runners-up of the two zones would fight for the title centrally here. ?The ACA will organise the semi-finals and the final,? the veteran sports organiser added.

?We will have to impress on the directorate of sports the need to ensure that school cricket tournaments are held regularly in every district,? the ACA secretary said.

The ACA had earlier written to the directorate seeking help in organising the school meets and the latter had responded positively.

Sources said the directorate has even showcaused several district sports officers for lapses in holding the school meet.

The directorate has instructed all districts to hold the tournaments and zonal meets. However, a number of districts are yet to comply with the order.