‘They are an integral part’ - BCCI secretary Jay Shah highlights development graph in northeast

The BCCI secretary Jay Shah has earned quite a reputation as a top administrator, mainly for his initiatives to bring wholesome changes across men’s and women’s cricket in India. Leading Indian Cricket to unparalleled heights during his two tenures that began in 2019, Shah is known for his bold calls and recently spoke on the development graph in the northeast part of the country.

Addressing how the BCCI is as connected and concerned about the facilities and players coming out from the northeast as from the rest of the country, Shah admits the cricket boards there have been allotted BCCI’s full membership while getting equal and fair opportunities is their right, which is BCCI's duty to offer.

During an exclusive chat with the Times of India (TOI), Shah touched upon this topic, detailing the flow of ideas and executions inside the closed doors at the Indian cricket board.

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“When I took over as BCCI secretary in September 2019, immediately within three to four months, there was the Covid-19 pandemic. All our focus was on how to host the IPL and some domestic cricket.

“For two years, the BCCI office was almost shut. Once we got the second term, we decided that we must take this forward. This was about developing facilities in the North-East. And the NCA, I had laid the foundation stone in 2022 in Bengaluru. In 2008, we had procured land, but no work was done. I don't know why my predecessors didn't do anything,” Shah said.

Upon being asked to express further about the work done in the northeast, Shah said it was his prime focus and that every state board is happy with the facility available and the progress done by the BCCI lately.

“They have been given full membership of the Board. They are an integral part of the country, and getting opportunities is their right, and giving it is the Board's duty.

“Creating facilities in the North-East was in my mind for a long time. The moment the bonding between the local associations there and BCCI improved, we started work. They are also more than happy. Earlier, they would get Rs 5 crore to run cricket, and today they get Rs 20 crore to host matches,” Shah continued.

Cricket set to rise in East

Although West Bengal, Jharkhand and even Assam have seen plenty of development over the years, the BCCI laid a foundation stone for a state-of-the-art indoor facility in six northeastern states - Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim, as announced earlier.

Jay Shah also informed that the BCCI is launching a new pavilion in Mizoram.

"Honoured to have laid the foundation stone for BCCI’s upcoming state-of-the-art indoor training facilities in the North East! Our cricketers from six states - Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim—will soon benefit from world-class indoor nets, indoor swimming pools and fitness centres for year-round training options. This, along with the launch of the new pavilion in Mizoram, are big steps towards our vision to enhance cricket infrastructure in the region, exciting times ahead!" Shah said on X earlier this year.

Honoured to have laid the foundation stone for BCCI’s upcoming state-of-the-art indoor training facilities in the North East! Our cricketers from six states - Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim—will soon benefit from world-class indoor nets,… pic.twitter.com/8DcO0lOfrh — Jay Shah (@JayShah) May 20, 2024

(With inputs from agencies)