SHILLONG: One of the most successful captains of Indian cricket, Saurav Ganguly, has advised young cricketers from Meghalaya to aim for becoming “MS Dhoni”.
Speaking at a programme after laying the foundation stone for construction of a Rs 5 crore indoor practice facility for cricket and a gymnasium here at the cricket ground in Polo.
The project is estimated to cost Rs 5.35 crore and will be funded by the BCCI. Ganguly asked the young students of the Shillong Cricket Academy to believe in them. “When you pick up the bat from now and play at different levels be it under 15-18 and Ranji, remember, your aim is to be him (MS Dhoni) from this part of the world,” Ganguly, who is lovingly called ‘Dada’, said during the event. He said earlier in the eastern part of the country, no one expected Dhoni to be the captain of the Indian team for 300 games.
Terming Shillong as one of the prettiest places in the East, he said now cricketers of Meghalaya have been exposed to big boys of the game through Vijay Hazare and Ranji trophy.
Stating that there is enormous talent in the North East, Ganguly added that an exposure is required for the young talents of the region to grow to the highest level.
Seeking cooperation of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, the former cricketer said without the support of the government, Cricket would not go ahead in this part of the country.
“As you go down the road, there will be issues, challenges and hard feelings but at the end it is the 22 yard and a green field which matters the most,” he said.
Sangma, who is also the president of the Meghalaya Cricket Association, said sports infrastructure which would come up for the National Games 2022 would have a legacy plan so that it can be used for other sports and activities and Cricket would be a part of the legacy plans.
“We are working out a mechanism in which cricket could be involved in the infrastructures that will come up in the state so that we can host not only the Ranji games but even IPL matches,” said Sangma.
He also recalled that few years back, the Meghalaya Cricket Association had moved to the state government for a land to have their own stadium and they were offered deep gorge for the stadium and that, they would have to take a helicopter to reach that location.
The Honorary Secretary of Cricket Association of Bengal, Abhishek Dalmiya, also stressed on the need to develop a full size cricket ground in Shillong to bring out players who would represent the nation some day. Maintaining that they want the North East to grow, Dalmiya said that the authorities would like to ensure that cricket facilities are developed in the state at the earliest and proper guidance are assured to the players from a very early age for the development of cricket in their region.
