Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Telegraph picture

Patna, Dec. 26: When Mahi boys are locked in an absorbing battle on Melbourne Cricket Ground’s 22 yards against the Aussies, the state government has set the ball rolling for Team India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s sports academy in Bihar.

Sports minister Sukhda Pandey today said the state government had sought details from Dhoni about the nature of his proposed sports academy. “I had a telephonic conversation with the personal secretary of Dhoni around 10 days ago and asked him to come down to the city with the detailed project report,” Pandey said.

The Team India captain’s personal secretary claimed that he would be in Bihar capital within a month with the detailed project report of Dhoni’s sports academy.

Dhoni had sought land from the state government in September for setting up a sports academy in Bihar. Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association president and BJP MP Anurag Thakur had forwarded a letter from Dhoni in this regard to deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who gave it to Pandey.

Welcoming the initiative of Dhoni, Bihar Ranji player Amikar Dayal said: “The state government should not have any problem in providing land to Dhoni for setting up the sports academy in Bihar. If the government is interested, it can easily provide land for the project in Patna or in Hajipur.”

Dayal said the state government owns large portion of unused land at Rajendra Nagar behind Moin-ul-Haq stadium. It can be allotted to Dhoni for developing the sports academy, he added.

The sports minister said there would be no problem in allotting land for Dhoni’s academy. Nor would there be any hiccup in providing logistic support to it, Pandey said.

The minister said: “Once the personal secretary of Dhoni submits the detailed project report, the government will take the necessary steps. The sports department officials will also discuss the project with Dhoni directly,” added Pandey.

Sources said the sports department asked Dhoni to clarify what would be the state government’s role in establishing and running the academy. It also sought details on land requirement and estimated cost of the project.

If Dhoni’s plan to set up a sports academy in Bihar materialises, it will be the second state after Jharkhand to have an academy for which Captain Cool took the initiative. Mahi’s dream to set up a sports academy in Jharkhand took wings after the government of the neighbouring state promised him a piece of land in Ranchi.