Kolkata, May 26: In an effort to spread the game to all corners of the country including the remotest areas, the cricket board has decided to hold a conclave of sports ministers and sports secretaries of 12 states and union territories here on June 2. The conclave would be attended among others by Union Sports Minister Vikram Verma, board president Jagmohan Dalmiya said here today.

He said the states and Union Territories which would attend the interaction with office bearers of BCCI include Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Pondicherry and Sikkim. The conclave, under board's ambitious project – new areas development programme (NDAP) -- is part of BCCI's attempt to target various states and union territories not covered by its affiliated units.

"As a starting point, the NADP will unearth cricketing talents in these regions from different age groups and coaching schemes will be started with the help of BCCI appointed coaches," Dalmiya said.

"BCCI will bear all direct expenses such as cost of basic cricket practice equipment, fees and travel of coaches and consultants as well as ground equipment and fitness equipment at a later stage," he said. The states and UTs concerned would be asked to identify the officially recognised local cricket authority, make some grounds available and prepare allied infrastructure, so that proper cricketing set-up could be established by the board.

A detailed plan would be worked out after the Kolkata conclave, he added.

Bureau Report