NCA to host 1st NECDC Friendship senior men’s tournament

Dimapur: Nagaland Cricket Association (NCA) is all set to host the 1st North East Cricket Development Committee (NECDC) Friendship senior men’s tournament scheduled to take place from March 29 to April 4, 2023.

This was announced during a press conference by the honorary secretary of Nagaland Cricket Association (NCA), Hyunilo Anilo Khing at NCA office Sovima, Chümoukedima on Sunday.

The NECDC comprises six Northeast cricket associations, including Nagaland, Manipur, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.

The matches will be played at Nagaland Cricket Stadium and Sovima Cricket ground and live-streamed by CricHeroes, with the exception of the final match, which will be a day-night game. All other matches will commence at 8:45 am, it was informed.

Khing said that the tournament not only serves as a platform for unity and collaboration among the participating states but also as a stepping stone towards competing in zonal tournaments organised by the BCCI. By participating in this tournament, players have the opportunity to be selected for the Northeast zonal team, which will compete in the prestigious Duleep Trophy, the highest level of domestic cricket tournament in the country, he said.

The teams participating in this current tournament have been split into two groups – Group A (consisting of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Meghalaya) and Group B (consisting of Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim). The tournament will feature a total of nine 50-over matches.

Khing reiterated that the final match of the tournament will be a day-night match, and the prize distribution ceremony will be attended by top officials from the government, various sports associations within the participating states, as well as officials from the Northeast.

He also informed that BCCI usually allows the six associations to take three guest players from outside and 12 from the states but in this tournament, all the 15 players for the Nagaland team are citizens of the state.

During the press conference, Khing mentioned that the NECDC was established in 2015 under the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. He explained that the primary goal of forming the NECDC was to advocate full membership in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

For a significant period of time, the six northeastern states did not have full membership. However, by coming together under one umbrella, the Justice Lodha Committee recommended a “one state, one vote” in the BCCI, he stated.

In addition, Khing highlighted the association’s primary objective for the development of the game, while acknowledging that football is deeply loved in Nagaland and the Northeast region. He, however, emphasised that cricket is progressing in the right direction.

Responding to allegations that the same players are being included in the Nagaland team over the years and not giving new players a chance, Khing stated that as long as the players are performing well, they will continue to be a part of the team.

Development activities under NECDC

Meanwhile, to achieve its objective of making the game accessible, the association has taken various measures, including the construction of concrete practice pitches in all district headquarters and subdivisions. Furthermore, they have been providing cricketing kits to schools, clubs, and district associations as part of their efforts to promote the sport at the grassroots level.

He said they have constructed about 53 concrete practice pitches in and around the states so far, adding that 1st NECDC Friendship Senior Men’s tournament would go a long way in promoting the game in this region.

Khing added that in the political map, Northeast region is considered as eight states but in cricketing map of the country when it comes to Northeast region, it is only six states as Assam and Tripura were considered under East Zone.

One of the major achievements they have made under the banner of NECDC is the approval and sanctioning of funds for indoor cricket practice facilities to be constructed by BCCI in all the six northeastern states.

The indoor facilities will house four to five indoor cricket practice pitches, state-of-the-art indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, office area for administration, locker room for players, cafeteria and a viewing gallery. This project is expected to get completed by the beginning of 2024, it was informed.  

“The success so far of the NCA is all because of the tireless effort and clear vision of Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio who has not only supported other sports and youth-related activities but knowing fully the future of the youth and what this beautiful game of cricket can bring to the state, he has performed immense growth by building this beautiful cricket stadium,” he said.

A third cricket ground is under construction and within two years, they will have three cricket grounds within the parameter of less than two kilometers which will give a lot of boost to the players, he added.

Khing also urged the citizens, especially the youths and parents to encourage their children and relatives to take interest not only in cricket but in various sports disciplines as a career opportunity.

He said that people here tend to see sports only as a hobby and that is why they lag behind.

There is a lack of vision, he said, adding that when screening is done for U-16 players, there are only a handful of local players who are brought by parents, which shows lack of support.

 He also admitted that the schedules of the BCCI and academics usually clash and people understandably give more weightage to academics.