Prime Target: Coach Kamal Das. Picture by S.H. Patgiri

Cricket Academy

Guwahati, Aug. 30: The academy for promoting cricket activities in Assam has come under fire from its own masters for the lack of it.

The Assam Cricket Association (ACA)’s governing body has recommended dissolution of the Assam Cricket Academy’s present dispensation as soon as possible for “lack of activities”.

At the governing body meeting at Barpeta yesterday, presided over by vice-president Rupkamal Kakati and attended by 42 members, reserved the strongest of words for the ACA-run academy’s head honchos. Former first-class player Kamal Das heads the academy, which was modelled on the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

“The meeting discussed the performance of the academy. The members were displeased with the lack of activities for the past couple of years,” ACA secretary Bikash Baruah said.

However, sources said the ACA was trying to put the blame entirely on the academy’s trainers, but it was equally responsible for the current state of affairs. The ACA has not allowed any of its coaching programmes to be held under the academy’s banner.

“Had the ACA tried to host the camps under the academy, why would the latter become defunct?” a source close to the academy, which was launched in 2001 under suspended ACA secretary Nandan Bezbaruah, asked.

The ACA technical committee will meet soon to decide the fate of the academy. The present dispensation is in office since the inception of the academy.

The members also decided to hold the ACA annual general meeting at Barpeta before Durga Puja.

The meeting ratified Nehru Stadium as the venue for the two Ranji Trophy elite group matches, while Dibrugarh will host the R.G. Baruah Trophy (under-17) and J.K. Baruah Trophy (under-19) inter-district championships. The Nehru Stadium and the NF Railway Stadium at Maligaon will also host Polly Umrigar Trophy (under-15) and Vijay Merchant Trophy (under-17) matches in accordance with the BCCI guideline that stipulates that all junior tournaments should be held in state headquarters.

The ACA decided to award two C.K. Nayudu Trophy (under-22) matches to the Jorhat District Sports Association.

The meeting also decided that any player should obtain permission from his district and from the ACA to play in clubs or teams abroad. However, such players will have to attend coaching camps and selection trials for the state team.