NCA wants to develop cricket in Northeast: Patil

Shillong, Feb 15 (PTI) Offering help to develop cricketin the Northeast, former Indian player and director ofNational Cricket Academy (NCA), Sandeep Patil, today suggestedthat states in the region should have at least one groundwith a tiger turf.

"We from the academy are not entitled to sanction anything but we can carry forward your requirement to the BCCI,"Patil told a press conference here.

Patil, leading an NCA delegation, is visiting differentstates of the region and would submit a report to the BCCI,making recommendations as to how to develop the sport in theregion.

Patil, who was a member of the 1983 World Cup winningteam further said, "what we are authorised to do is to helpyou walk up the ladder in the cricketing carrier. As of nowthere are no activities for boys above 21 years of age here asthere are no tournaments for the people of that age group."

After taking a stock of the cricketing infrastructure inMeghalaya today, he said, "some good programmes were needed atthe grassroots level. The state association has been suggestedto acquire more playing fields."

The NCA, he said, was ready to provide all the push neededin terms of coaching, training and other expertise.

"I have suggested to the states in the region, that theytry and have a tiger turf � astro-turf where a permanentmat is put on the pitch. It is weather proof. We have had onein Bangalore two years back, and is doing well," he said.

He also suggested at the district level, there should beat least one good playing field with two wickets and space forfielding practice.