BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah addresses the media at Barsapara on Wednesday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, July 18: The BCCI will bear 50 per cent of the total expenditure for construction of the Assam Cricket Association’s proposed state-of-the-art cricket stadium at Barsapara.

This was announced by the BCCI secretary, Niranjan R. Shah, at a media briefing this afternoon.

Shah is here to attend the foundation-laying ceremony of the proposed stadium’s clubhouse and stands slated for tomorrow.

“It is the policy of the BCCI to invest in infrastructure development across the country. We distribute the revenue every year among the state cricket associations spread across the country to upgrade facilities. Sound infrastructure is essential to progress in sports,” Shah said.

He said it was the BCCI’s policy to reimburse expenses incurred by the state cricket associations in infrastructure development.

“The ACA is going to build a 35,000-capacity stadium at an estimated cost of Rs 35 crore,” ACA president Gautam Roy said.

The BCCI has already committed Rs 10 crore. However, funds will be released after the ACA starts construction.

“Initially, we are going to build a 35,000-capacity stadium because a portion of land is still being encroached and hearing of the cases filed in the revenue court is not over yet, ” said Roy.

The state government has allotted a 59-bigha plot of land to the ACA out of which 29 bighas were occupied by encroachers.

“After two years of legal battle, the ACA has acquired possession of 26 bighas of land while encroachers refuse to vacate three bighas,” Roy said.

The ACA had already managed funds to the tune of Rs 5 crore for the construction of the stadium, he said. Roy is hopeful of raising more funds.

Shah suggested installation of floodlights at the new stadium so that poor light during post-lunch sessions does not disrupt play in winter.

He visited the Assam Cricket Academy at Nehru Stadium and expressed satisfaction over the infrastructure, including the newly-developed indoor practice facility. Shah said Assam would be able to send players to senior internationals within three years.

“A minimum period is required to groom a youngster so that he can blossom into a world class player,” he said.

Asked about the ACA’s protest against the Orissa Cricket Association for alleged pitch-tampering during last year’s Ranji Trophy Plate group semi-final at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, Shah said there was no evidence to substantiate the ACA’s claim.