da poker： The National Cricket Academy was launched in Bangalore on May 1
Partab Ramchand02-Feb-2001The National Cricket Academy was launched in Bangalore on May 1. Butvery soon Chennai laid a claim to hosting the NCA, thanks to an offerof ground to be made available by the Tamil Nadu government in thesuburbs. However with the Karnataka government making a similar offer,it was always on the cards that Bangalore would stay as the home ofthe NCA, given the built in advantages of better weather and readyinfrastructure.But Chennai was always the favourite as the venue to host the Zonalbranch of the NCA. And now things are getting into place for thesouthern metropolis hosting the zonal academy at the MA Chidambaramstadium.In fact, Ashok Kumbhat, secretary, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, isconfident that the zonal academy will start functioning in April.Talking to CricInfo on Friday, he said that the two-member committeeof former Indian cricketers, Polly Umrigar and Brijesh Patel, who areconsultant and coordinator of the NCA inspected the existingfacilities at the stadium on Wednesday.”They were more than happy with the facilities available. What islacking among the list of items required for the academy is a swimmingPool,” he said.While the swimming pool could be got ready only after obtaining thesanction of the TNCA executive committee, a gymnasium and rooms toaccommodate 25 trainees drawn from the six southern state units of theBCCI would be built soon, Kumbhat said.Umrigar and Patel also insisted on visiting the accommodation wherethe boys are likely to be housed. They also inspected a warehouse tostore academy property, according to Kumbhat. Where the practicepitches are concerned, the TNCA is more than well equipped. While onlyfour practice pitches are needed for the academy, the TNCA has eightsuch wickets.Meanwhile, G Kasturirangan and Dhiraj Parsana, members of the pitchcommittee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India visited theChidambaram stadium on Friday in connection with the conduct of thethird Test match between India and Australia to be played from March18 to 22. According to Kumbhat, they expressed satisfaction with thepitch and the facilities at the ground.