The Karnataks State Cricket Association managing committee says it does not have money to increase the lunch allowance of active cricket clubs, but it holds a press conference to announce that KSCA wants to create rain-water harvesting system in all its centres.
Wow!
Where does this money come from for these projects?
When it can be done inhouse, why is an agency being entrusted with the works?
Approximately 70 to 80 crore has been spent on building infrastructure in Hubli, Belgaum, Shimoga and Alur. The MC gets the Finance Committee (FC) clearance without any hesitation.
But MC can’t convince the FC to raise the lunch allowance of clubs which are the backbone of the association and cricket ecosystem. A parsley Rs 2500 is doled out as allowance.
Clubs play matches as far away as 35 to 50km from the City. The facilities at these distant grounds are pathetic. The tarpaulin covers provided are often torn/ ripped apart by gusty winds and dogs. Matches get delayed often because of this issue. There is no medical aid (especially ice cubes/ packs) in these grounds. Hospitals are far away. But we don’t complain as we want Karnataka cricket to thrive!!!
We appreciate KSCA has created sub-air system at the M Chinnaswany stadium.
It doesn’t matter who made how much money from this project. The work cost KSCA over Rs 6 crore we are told.
But, we want to know how many league matches have been played at the main stadium? Dear MC, Please furnish the details of the number of local matches played after this humongously costly project was completed.
Instead of paying huge sums to private grounds, matches could very well be played at the home of Karnataka cricket. Cricketers would be happy to play in an environment where greats like GR Vishwanath, EAS Prasanna, B S Chandrashekar, Syed Kirmani, Brijesh Patel, Roger Binny, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Javagal Srinath… Among others have played, mastered their skills and showcased their talent in international cricket.
Club secretaries met your nominated member Santosh Menon, at a meeting organised by KSCA, and requested him to take the grievances of cricket clubs to the MC/FC.
But when we asked Menon, he said the allowance has not been increased. It has remained Rs 2500 for the past several years, despite inflation and price rise.
But the costs of project works have escalated! There is no objections we presume when it relates to project works.
Somebody must be smiling all the way to the bank!
As an interim committee, which has long overstayed it’s tenure, it should not take up any projects. Let the new committee, which should be place in a couple of months time, take the decision to spend money on rain water harvesting system.
We wish to remind the MC that the primary duty, as in the preamble of the MOA, is to promote cricket. Sadly, cricket has been the last priority of this committee.
So before the MC takes up any more projects, let it care for its cricket clubs, cricketers, office staff, ground staff (who are paid measly salaries despite KSCA being one of the richest associations in the country) and the fans who have made cricket what it is today. In Cricket Service
