On Monday, the BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, BCCI secretary Jay Shah, and other board officials laid the foundation for the new National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore.
The BCCI had secured the land on a 99-year lease. Ganguly shared the photos of the event attended by NCA head VVS Laxman, who had taken over the position from Rahul Dravid after Dravid was named the men’s national team head coach, along with Pragyan Ojha, a BCCI member, vice president Rajeev Shukla, treasurer Arun Dhumal, joint secretary Jayesh George.
“The new National cricket Academy starts from today ..laid the foundation stone of the new place today in Bengaluru,” Ganguly tweeted and also shared images of the ceremony.
The new National cricket Academy starts from today ..laid the foundation stone of the new place today in bengaluru @bcci pic.twitter.com/VPHYxcC4yH
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) February 14, 2022
Ganguly also shared photos of the project that has gotten fans in awe as three ground will be up and ready in quick time for players to train and practice.
Since the existing NCA’s establishment in 2000, it has been running from the premises of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in the heart of the city. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), which owns the stadium, had rented out to the BCCI its Ground B for outdoor practice, besides an indoor practice facility, and separate space for a modern gymnasium.
The new facility, which is expected to be ready in a year’s time, will have three grounds where domestic matches can be held.
The new National cricket Academy @bcci pic.twitter.com/fVWMOxev5g
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) February 14, 2022
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah wrote on his Twitter handle, “Laid the foundation stone for @BCCI’s new NCA. It is our collective vision to have a Centre of Excellence which nurtures talent and supports the cricket ecosystem in India.”
Laid the foundation stone for @BCCI’s new NCA. It is our collective vision to have a Centre of Excellence which nurtures talent and supports the cricket ecosystem in ??. Jai Hind! @SGanguly99 @ThakurArunS @ShuklaRajiv @VVSLaxman281 pic.twitter.com/0EMzssMJIe
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) February 14, 2022
Speaking about Ganguly, the BCCI President recently denied all reports against him that said that he had influenced the selection decisions of the national side and had forced himself on several occasions in the selection meetings.
The former India captain smashed those claims, saying that one photo doing the rounds on social media is not of a selection meeting.
“I don’t think I need to answer anybody anything (on this) and dignify any of these baseless accusations. I am the president of BCCI and I do the job of what the president of BCCI should be doing,” Ganguly told PTI.
