Jay Shah Visits Sikkim Ahead of Indoor Cricket Academy Inauguration
Arrival in Bagdogra
On Sunday, Jay Shah, the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), arrived at Bagdogra Airport accompanied by senior officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This visit is in anticipation of the inauguration of an Indoor Cricket Academy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Sikkim.
Warm Welcome
Upon landing at Bagdogra, Shah and his team received a warm welcome from Liaison Officers, Tika Subba, the President of the Cricket Association, and K C Sharma, the Chairman of the Construction Committee, along with officials from the Home Department's Bagdogra unit.
New Cricket Facility in Sikkim
Recently, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia inspected the newly built indoor cricket academy located at the Sikkim Cricket Ground in Mining, Rangpo. The facility, which cost Rs 23 crore, is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on April 28, alongside other infrastructure projects.
Modern Amenities
The indoor academy, situated within the Sikkim Cricket Association (SICA) grounds, boasts modern amenities including net practice areas, a gym, a swimming pool, and other vital infrastructure designed to enhance cricket training standards in the region.
BCCI's Commitment to Northeast Cricket
Saikia pointed out that prior to 2019, only Assam and Manipur held permanent BCCI membership among the Northeastern states. However, all states in the region have now been granted permanent membership, facilitating significant infrastructure advancements. The BCCI is dedicated to elevating these states to the level of more established members by fostering cricket development.
During his visit to Sikkim, Saikia mentioned that the project, which began in 2022, is now complete and will be officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi. He noted that the facilities in Rangpo, along with similar projects in five other Northeastern states, will be inaugurated in a single event.
"Prime Minister Modi will be in Sikkim on April 28. On that day, the indoor cricket facilities we initiated in 2022 will be ready for inauguration. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the facilities in Rangpo and five other Northeastern states simultaneously, providing a significant boost to cricket in the entire region," Saikia stated.