Will continue to support cricket in Goa: CM Pramod Sawant

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant has told the newly-elected managing committee of the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) that the sport will continue to enjoy support of the state govt.
“I congratulated them. As far as Goan cricket is concerned, I backed the committee earlier and will continue to support (the new group),” Sawant said after meeting the GCA managing committee at his official residence on Monday.
The GCA managing committee’s decision to meet the chief minister comes on the backdrop of a massive 6-0 win for the group led by former presidents Chetan Dessai, Vinod Phadke, his son Vipul, and Suraj Lotlikar. Chetan’s brother Mahesh, a former Ranji Trophy cricketer, was elected president, after he comfortably defeated Mahesh Candolkar.
The opposing panel, which called itself ‘parivartan’, enjoyed the backing of state govt. It was propped by Rohan Gauns Dessai, joint secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and a key state BJP functionary.
Dessai was previously an unanimous choice for the GCA secretary’s post in 2022, a position he quit in March this year to take over as BCCI joint secretary.
“It was a courtesy visit. The chief minister has assured 100% support to the committee. The state govt and all departments will support us,” said outgoing president Vipul Phadke.
Chetan Dessai said the delegation spoke in one voice with Sawant being “very supportive.”
Later in the day, Mahesh Dessai and the managing committee took charge of GCA affairs at its headquarters in Porvorim.
“Taking over as GCA president is a dream come true,” said Dessai. “I must thank all 107 clubs and, even if they have not voted for me at the elections, I’ll need their support to take Goan cricket forward. We will work together. We all know that an international stadium is every Goan’s dream. I will consult our senior leaders and the managing committee. We will act in the best interest of Goan cricket.”
Dessai is the first Ranji Trophy cricketer to be elected as GCA president.
He was part of the first Ranji squad in 1985-86 and had impressive spells, claiming the wickets of Gundappa Vishwanath and K Srikanth. An allrounder, the 64-year-old also captained the Panjim Gymkhana cricket team.