After five years, BCA revives school cricket tournament

Vadodara: The thriving school cricket culture in the city has been instrumental in giving international cricketers like Anshuman Gaekwad, Kiran More, Nayan Mongia,

Atul Bedade and many more first-class players.

The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) management that had been ignoring school cricket over last few years seems to have realized the importance of this tournament.

The association on Monday announced that organizing Maharani Shantadevi Inter School Tournament which will start from Tuesday in the city. It is after a gap of five years that the tournament is being played in the city. The last time the tournament was played in 2015. “We had to stop the tournament as it wasn’t getting place in the other BCCI as well as local cricket tournaments. We were not having enough dates to play this tournament,” said Satyajit Gaekwad, chairman of BCA’s press and publicity committee.

The association was also facing criticism for sidestepping school cricket and promoting club cricket for years. “BCA had been getting talented players from school cricket, so we decided to start it again. It will give good opportunity to young players,” said Pranav Amin, BCA president.

A total of 16 school teams will play in the group of four groups. All the matches will be played as per one day rules.

When asked if the tournament will have a permanent place in BCA’s cricket calendar, Amin said, “We are preparing an elaborate calendar of cricket tournaments for every season. This tournament will have a fixed schedule every year,” Amin added.

The association is planning to look for sponsors for this tourney that took off in 1990s. BCA will also organize district level school tournaments on the grounds there.

New coach to be picked

After Ranji coach Sanath Kumar suffered brain stroke last month, former India pacer Munaf Patel is playing the dual role of Ranji team’s coach as well as mentor. Playing without a full time coach, Baroda team crashed out of the Ranji Trophy due to performance as well as selection issue. The association is planning to rope in a new coach for the next season.

200 applications for CEO post

The BCA has received nearly 200 applications for the post of CEO. BCA president, Pranav Amin said that they have zeroed in on 30 to 40 applications out of which three to five candidates will be short-listed. Sources in the BCA said that one of the strong contenders has demanded unreasonably high salary for the job.