Officials at Nehru Stadium’s Pilik Choudhury Pavilion

Guwahati, April 27: The Assam Cricket Association (ACA) will no longer have to make alternative arrangements to accommodate mediapersons while hosting one-day internationals at Nehru Stadium.

To overcome the perennial space crunch when it comes to seating the media during ODIs and other major sports events at the stadium, the ACA had earlier moved the Board of Sports of Assam to upgrade and extend the existing Pilik Choudhury Pavilion.

The board has now “got down to work” on the proposed expansion.

“We are working on the draft proposal to expand the pavilion. It will take another couple of days to complete it, after which the board secretary (director of sports Dhruba Hazarika) will place the proposal before the chief minister for approval,” an official said.

The ACA, in compliance with an ICC directive, had moved the board to increase seating capacity in the pavilion and widen the entrances to the galleries. The association has also proposed to bear the construction expenses if the pavilion is leased out to it for exclusive use and maintenance. The proposal also includes modernisation of the players’ pavilion.

A copy of the ACA offer letter was made available to the media.

“We have to work out the modalities with the ACA on its offer and submit the same along with the renovation proposal to the chief minister’s office,” the official added.

The ACA expects to host a one-day international by the year-end or early 2008.

“The extension of the pavilion over Gate 9 seems to be feasible. However, widening the 12 gallery entrances will not only be expensive but also reduce the stadium’s seating capacity by about 5,000. Besides, given the foundation and age of the building, it is technically not advisable to go for such a major renovation because it could weaken the structure,” the official said.

The stadium can accommodate 23,000 spectators for a cricket match.

The ICC directive was issued following crowd violence and problems in accommodating the media in the spectators’ gallery through Gate 2 during last year’s abandoned ODI between India and England.

The securitymen said they could not act promptly to check the outburst, fearing a stampede at the narrow entrances to the galleries.

The National Games Secretariat has decided to allot a hall to the ACA in the newly built Tarun Ram Phookan Indoor Hall alongside Nehru Stadium for a gymnasium for cricketers.

The ACA had acquired gym equipment under the BCCI’s academy scheme two years ago, but has since been running from pillar to post to set up the gym.