WITH cricket growing exponentially, Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA), apex body responsible for promotion of the sport in the region, needs more grounds and better infrastructure to cater to the rising need. VCA, that boasts of one of the finest stadia in India at Jamtha, has one big old ground at Civil Lines that also houses its Residential Academy; a ground at Kalamna and one exclusive for women’s cricket beside LAD College in Seminary Hills. In spite of all these grounds, VCA is feeling the heat to mange a huge volume of cricketing activities in those spaces. “Considering the amount of cricket being played, we felt the need of expansion. We need more grounds along with infrastructure.

 

To request the State government for providing land for grounds, I met Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis and presented him a memorandum in that regard,” said Justice (Retd) Vinay Deshpande, President, VCA while talking to ‘The Hitavada’. BCCI has increased match fees and perks for women cricketers making it at par with their male counterparts, and that along with Women’s Premier League (WPL), has made cricket more popular amongst girls. Cricket is a now a very good career option for women as well and the breed is flocking the grounds emphasising the need of more such places in the region.