By Shamik Chakrabarty in Mumbai
On a day when the Maharashtra government felicitated Women’s World Cup-winning Indian team members from the state, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) wrote to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, requesting a plot of land to establish a dedicated residential women’s cricket academy. In his letter to the chief minister, MCA president Ajinkya Naik mentioned that the academy would serve as a centre of excellence.
“In line with our commitment to the growth of women’s cricket, we are keen to establish a dedicated residential women’s cricket academy within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR),” Naik wrote in his letter. “The academy will serve as a centre of excellence providing comprehensive facilities including turf grounds, indoor practice areas, residential accommodation, a gymnasium, physiotherapy and sports medicine support, and classrooms for academic and life-skill development.”
Many women cricketers travel long distances for training sessions, and the academy aims to address this issue. “At present, women players have to travel long distances across the city and suburbs for regular practice sessions, which often results in fatigue, time loss, and logistical challenges, particularly for players from distant areas,” stated the letter.
It added: “The proposed residential academy will greatly reduce this hardship by providing a centralised training and accommodation facility, enabling players to focus better on their game and overall development.”
The MCA has requested a plot of land within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. “We, therefore, humbly request the kind consideration of the Government of Maharashtra to allot a suitable plot of land within the MMR region for the establishment of this academy,” Naik wrote. “The MCA is fully prepared to invest in the development of the facility and manage its operations on a not-for-profit basis.”
The governing body of Mumbai cricket has called it a “landmark initiative” that would serve as a guiding light for the promotion of women’s sport in Maharashtra.
“We firmly believe that with the support of the state government, this project can become a landmark initiative that strengthens Maharashtra’s leadership in promoting women’s sport and creates a lasting legacy for generations to come,” the letter concluded.
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