Jay Shah, the secretary of the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), has affirmed the forthcoming establishment of multiple cricket academies in the northeastern states of India. This initiative extends to the opening of numerous academies in Jammu and Kashmir.
While the northeastern states have faced neglect in cricket development for several years, the recent initiative by BCCI promises a transformation. Jay Shah states that the academies are nearing completion as part of this change.
“We are monitoring it on a day-to-day basis. He is at NCA only, he is working very hard,” Shah said.
“The academies in the Northeast States will be ready soon; probably by August, midway through August, we’ll see academies opening up in the Northeast and the new NCA in Bengaluru. And the work on Jammu & Kashmir Academy has started,” Shah said during the sidelines of the recently concluded WPL 2024 auction.
The extension has been granted, but the contract details are still pending finalization: Shah
Moreover, Shah also discussed the extension of India’s head coach Rahul Dravid. The BCCI has granted him an extension, and Shah expressed that the duration of his tenure will be determined after he concludes the South Africa tour.
“We have given the extension but we are yet to finalise the contract. We did not get time at all, they finished (with the World Cup), I had a meeting with them and we agreed mutually that they would continue. Now We will sit down and decide once they return from South Africa,” Shah said.
He also provided a status update on Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who sustained an injury during the ODI World Cup 2023 and has not returned to play since. However, Shah mentioned that Pandya might make a comeback in January during India’s three-match T20I series against Afghanistan.
“We are monitoring it on a day-to-day basis. He is at NCA only, he is working very hard and we will let you know in due course the moment he is fit. He could be fit before the Afghanistan series also,” Shah added.
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