Six practice wickets open for club cricketers

MYSORE : Now, club cricketers can heave a sigh of relief. Six practice wickets for them were inaugurated at Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar Stadium here on Thursday. Apart from KSCA-affiliated clubs, the first-of-its-kind facility in Karnataka will be open for schools and colleges.
Speaking after doing the honours, Karnataka State Cricket Association president Ashok Anand appreciated Mysore Zone convener S Balachandar for coming out with the "much-needed facility" for club cricketers.He also called upon clubs, schools and colleges to make the use of the facility to a maximum extent.
C Krishna, director of the department of physical education, University of Mysore, said: "For the past many years, members of various clubs used to approach us for better facilities. With the opening this facility, cricketers can concentrate improving their skills."
Such facilities will come up at all other six zones -- Bangalore, Dharwad, Raichur, Mangalore, Shimoga and Tumkur -- for the benefit of aspiring cricketers from mofussil areas. Sunil Joshi, Yere Goud and Vinay Kumar, who too hailed from mofussil areas, have made it big in the cricketing scene. Earlier, cricketers from Mysore wanting to get the feel of turf wicket used to come to Bangalore. "With this facility, we are confident of having more talented players from mofussil areas in the days to come," Krishna added.
There are about 55 clubs affiliated to KSCA. Hitherto, most of the members from these clubs used to practise at Maharaja's Grounds. But with the grounds also hosting events like exhibitions and political rallies, it had become elusive for cricketers.