Notwithstanding the pathbreaking steps initiated to give Assam cricket a direction, ACA secretary and former Ranji captain Nandan Bezbaruah is finding the going tough while seeking his third term in office at the annual general body meeting scheduled for November 9 in Bongaigaon.

However, the “cool but reserved” Bezbaruah is confident of winning another term, simply on the basis of ACA’s achievements under his stewardship and for playing straight. He also claims that this term will be his last.

The two-time secretary is up against joint secretary Bikash Baruah and assistant secretary Achyut Borthakur. The name of former treasurer, Prasanna Kalita, is also doing the rounds.

Excerpts from the interview he gave to The Telegraph today:

On why should he be given another term

Bezbaruah: Those genuinely associated with Assam cricket will tell you why I am seeking and should get another term. Moreover, I have been fair to all districts and helped take the game to the interiors. I must acknowledge here that whatever I have achieved would not have been possible without the help of like-minded ACA members. I am confident of winning.

A third term will help Assam get a proper cricketing infrastructure, particularly the proposed state-of-the-art stadium in Hengarabari. I need another term to complete the tasks the ACA has started — the cricket stadium and implementation of the blueprint for development of cricket. After that I will quit on my own.

On ACA’s achievements under his tenure

Bezbaruah: During my first term from 1992-95, Assam qualified for the Ranji knockout for the first time. It did for three years. Last year, too, the team not only qualified but also finished second and first in the league and one-dayers respectively.

Several seniors — Zaved Zaman, Sukhwinder Singh and Zakaria Zuffri — have played for India-A and B teams while younger players like Khanin Saikia and Sadek Imran Choudhury have played for the junior national teams. Besides, for the first time, several players from Assam figured in the Dullep and Deoadhar zonal XI and have had stints at the zonal and national cricket academies.

On the infrastructure front

Bezbaruah: The setting up of the Assam Cricket Academy last year and the hiring of Assam’s first outstation coach, former test cricketer Lalchand Rajput, I am sure will be regarded by many as ACA’s greatest achievements till date. It is a very novel initiative and if continued, will yield great results.

Then there is the decentralisation of junior selections, with the zonal centres shortlisting the players to attend the central camp. Moreover, each district was allotted Rs 40,000 for the development of cricket.

Interviewed by

Umanand Jaiswal