Lack of govt initiatives a hurdle in development of cricket in state
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 22 2012: Even though, cricket is one of the most loved sports in the world and many budding cricketers are rising in the state, the condition of cricket development in the state is still in a deplorable state due to lack of government initiatives and proper grounds.

Secretary of Manipur Cricket Association (MCA), Haobam Biramangol told Hueiyen Lanpao that lack of proper cricket ground has been a major hurdle in the development of cricket in the state.

It takes around two or three months for a Robin League Cricket tournament to complete.

Since Manipur has longer rainy season, the season in which one can play cricket is very short.

At present, there are only two cricket grounds in the state which is used by the MCA to organise cricket tournaments which are Luwangpokpa Cricket Ground and Khuman Lampak.

Even though there are two cricket ground in the state, the ground at Khuman Lampak is pretty busy throughout the year for other sports events.

Luwangpokpa ground is the only ground, which is meant only for cricket.

Due to lack of cricket ground, it takes many days to organise a cricket tournament as only one match can be played in a day, he said.

Keeping in view the problems faced by the MCA, the state government should construct more cricket grounds to develop cricket in the state.

Stating that Manipur can shine in the field with proper initiatives from the side of the government, he further said that MCA is facing many problems in developing cricket in the state since MCA is only an associate member of the BCCI.

He also said that Manipur has set its foot nearer towards the Ranji Trophy after they won the U-22 Associate and Affiliated Members Cricket Tournament held at Eden Garden, Kolkata.

In the past years, Manipur failed to send its teams in the Inter School and Inter University Cricket Tournament.

Even though MCA has been trying hard to send Manipur teams in the said tournaments, it could not succeed due to lack of proper initiatives from the side of the government.

He also appealed to the government to appoint a cricket coach in the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports.

MCA is putting in a lot of efforts to install turf pitch in some grounds around Imphal city, Biramangol said while adding that Manipur can participate in the Ranji Trophy in the coming years if proper initiatives are taken up by the government.

It may be mentioned that Ranji Trophy is the gateway to International career for cricketers in India.

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