GUWAHATI, Feb 13 � Member of the World Cup winning Indian team in 1983, Sandip Patil visited the Nehru Stadium here to take stock of facilities for a cricket academy.
Patil visited the stadium as Director of National Cricket Academy (NCA) and expressed satisfaction about the facilities here for setting up a cricket academy. He also hoped that Assam Cricket Association (ACA) will be able to continue its functioning properly in its already existing academy. NCA chief bowling coach S Venkatram also accompanied Patil. Both the NCA officials yesterday visited Sikkim and tomorrow will proceed to Shillong. They are also likely to visit Imphal and Dimapur.
Patil, interacting with the mediapersons here said all the facilities here are excellent although the stadium belonged to the State Government. He also hoped that in the coming days, Assam will be able to produce national level players regularly. He will visit the under construction ACA stadium at Barsapara here on February 17. He said ACA, under the leadership of president Gautam Roy and secretary Bikash Baruah, is doing a tremendous job by setting up ACA�s own stadium where the State cricket body will be able to start its academy with all the required facilities.
Patil, however skipped any questions on the forthcoming World Cup and teams. He also was reluctant to answer any question on his own performance in his playing days. The hero of 1983 Indian World Cup team revealed that he would love to see the camp of Zonal Cricket Academy here in the city. He said at present NCA has 32 academies in various places and 29, including Assam are functioning properly. Patil also informed that several Assam players have already attended camps at NCA. He further said all the NCA qualified coaches must work for the development of their respective State cricket.
