Dhoni

Patna, Sept. 6: The Bihar government has responded favourably to cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s proposal to set up a sports academy in the state. The department of art and culture today wrote a letter seeking details of the plot and other infrastructure for the academy that Dhoni wishes to set up.

Last week, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi had received an email from Dhoni in which he had expressed his desire to set up a state-of-the-art sports academy in the state.

Art, culture and sports minister Sukhda Pandey confirmed that the government has replied to Dhoni. “It is not only my department but the government as a whole is very enthusiastic about Dhoni’s proposal. But his letter does not mention the details of the academy that the captain wishes to set up. We have written to him soliciting the details,” Pandey said.

Asked where the government would allot land if Dhoni followed up on his proposal, Pandey said: “Prima facie it appears that Dhoni wishes to set up a comprehensive sports academy which requires a huge plot. The government can spare land for that on the periphery of Patna — in Phulwari Sharif, Vaishali and Maner areas.” Pandey said the government had requested Dhoni to respond to its letter soon.