Former Test player Arshad Ayub (in blue) and first class cricketer Sishir Hatangadi interact with Assam junior cricket probables after the inauguration of a special coaching camp at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday. Picture by S.H. Patgiri

Guwahati, Sept. 13: The Assam Cricket Association?s (ACA) cricket stadium project in Barsapara ground, here has hit legal hurdles.

This was disclosed by ACA president Gautam Roy while inaugurating the special coaching camp for state junior probables at Nehru Stadium here today.

Roy, who is also the state social welfare and revenue minister, said that the ACA was sincere about constructing an exclusive cricket stadium with all necessary amenities.

However this problem has been ?laid down by a lobby of vested interests? who have moved the court refusing to vacate the land they had encroached earlier.

After taking the help of the district administration to evict the encroachers, the ACA has acquired possession of over 50 bighas of land on the nearly 60-bigha ground.

However, a section of encroachers has moved court hampering the ground development work that the ACA had initiated.

?I used to pay regular visits to the ground in order to ensure that no further encroachments take place in the ground,? Roy said, adding that the ACA has already managed funds to the tune of Rs 5 crore for the stadium construction.

?Apart from allotting us the ground free of cost, chief minister Tarun Gogoi has also assured us funds of Rs 1 crore annually for the stadium construction. The first installment of Rs 1 crore has already been released,? Roy said

Talking about the assurance coming from BCCI chief patron Jagmohan Dalmiya he said that Dalmiya has also promised Rs 4 crore for the stadium.

He appreciated his colleagues in the ACA, especially secretary Bikash Baruah, for their dedication towards the development of cricket.

He also lauded their efforts in instituting unprecedented coaching schemes to groom a brighter future for cricket in the state.

The special coaching camp, got under way when former test player Arshad Ayub joined first class cricketer from Mumbai, Sishir Hatangadi, today.

Altogether 57 under-15 and under-19 probables are attending the camps where Jeeth Gegaya is helping as the physical trainer.

After working for a day with the Assam probables, Hatangadi, who replaced former Mumbai cricketer Ravi Kulkarni in the camp, said that the state has enough potential but needs proper grooming.

Hatangadi and Ayub will be joined by former state Ranji coach and Test player Lalchand Rajput on September 17. Rajput was supposed to join the camp today, but had to stay back for a National Cricket Academy assignment till September 16. Rajput had helped the Assam Cricket Association in its junior coaching camps last year too.