Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Following the election of the new executive committee of the Aurangabad District Cricket Association (ADCA), newly elected Secretary Shirish Boralkar interacted with players, coaches, and tournament organizers at the ADCA ground.
For the first time in the association's history, all stakeholders in the district were invited to offer suggestions and state their demands before any committee was formed. The meeting focused primarily on the player selection process, the condition of the ground, and infrastructure facilities.
Focus on Improving Pitches and Outfield
Special emphasis was placed on upgrading the ground to host the Ranji Trophy or other major matches. According to BCCI regulations, curators inspect the pitch and ground three days prior to a match. A previous inspection had revealed numerous depressions and uneven patches on the outfield. Consequently, repair work on the pitches and outfield must be undertaken on a war footing before the onset of rains in June, ensuring the ground is match-ready by October.
Transparency in Selection and 'Fitness Camps'
Coaches primarily demanded transparency in the selection process. Accordingly, instead of last-minute selections, 15 to 20 players will be selected in June from each category-Under-14, Under-16, Under-19, Under-23, and senior men's and women's teams. Dinesh Kunte, a senior player and coordinator of the 'Player Development and Transformation Panel,' expressed the view that initiating fitness and practice camps six months in advance-modeled after BCCI standards-would enhance player performance and foster better team coordination.
Key Demands from Academies and Coaches
Coaches from prominent city cricket academies attended the meeting and primarily put forward the following demands:
1. Transparent Selection Process: Priority should be given to player merit during district team selection.
2. Quality of Grounds: Provision of high-quality pitches and adequate practice facilities.
3. Affiliation with ADCA: Official registration of every player and academy with the ADCA.
The meeting was attended by newly elected ADCA office-bearers-including Vice President Umesh Dabri, Joint Secretary Karan Dogra, Treasurer Anil Iravane, and Executive Committee members Nikhil Mitkar, Sudhir Bhalerao, Hemant Mule, Dinesh Kunte, Anant Neralkar, Karmavir Lavera, Prabhulal Patel, Rahul Tekale, Milind Patil, Pritesh Mudraka, Pradip Jagdale, Rafiq Shaikh, Sarika Deshpande, Deepak Patil, Shakir Raja-along with numerous current and former players and coaches. The newly appointed board stated that final planning based on the suggestions raised would be completed within the next eight days, and work would commence thereafter.