Grand centre is all set to roll
BENGALURU: The long-cherished dream of the BCCI to have a world-class multipurpose facility of its own is finally coming to fruition with the inauguration of the National Cricket Academy, rechristened the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, on Saturday evening.
The foundation stone for the state-of-the-art facility was laid in February 2022, and 30 months later, the finishing touches are being added.
The facility has been in the pipeline for a long time. In 2010, the BCCI purchased 49 acres of land from the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) to set up its own facility for the National Cricket Academy.
Three years later, the property hit a legal hurdle when the Karnataka High Court deemed the transaction illegal. With the deadlock continuing, it wasn’t until 2016 that the cricket board started identifying properties in other states. The Karnataka government swiftly acted to clear the decks for the acquisition of the property.
After spending 24 years at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Centre of Excellence is likely to be operational at the new premises by the year-end.
At the heart of the project are three international standard grounds with modern amenities. Ground A, the main ground, has an 85-yard boundary with 13 red soil pitches. Beyond the lush green boundary line on one side are seating mounds with the ground surrounded by picket fences giving it a county vibe.
While the grounds, the dressing rooms, and administrative facilities are ready for use, the equipment in the gymnasium is yet to be installed.
Speaking to the media, NCA head VVS Laxman, on Sunday, said, “NCA has been renamed as the BCCI Centre of Excellence. The word excellence is very important for all the sportspersons who are trying to compete at the highest level. The beneficiaries will be not only the future generation of cricketers but also the current generation.” Laxman stated.
“It is a dream come true for all the players with three world-class grounds, 45 practice wickets, and other facilities. I just hope that everyone who comes here will benefit from this initiative.”
On the multi-layered use of facilities, Laxman highlighted, “There is a misconception that the cricketers come here only for rehab. They come to upskill themselves and get ready for the challenges coming their way.”
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