ACA, SMC to sign MoU to promote cricket in Vja

PNS|Vijayawada

The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) is developing the Siddhartha Medical College grounds to encourage more cricketing activities in Vijayawada. As part of this, with the support of ACA, the Krishna District Cricket Association (KDCA) has renovated cricket nets on the premises of SMC grounds.

In addition to giving coaching and conducting practice matches among the trainers, the ACA will take over the SMC grounds soon. Without SMC’s agreement, ACA will not be able to spend any money for developing SMC grounds as it may raise audit objections.

In this situation, ACA has proposed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to the Siddhartha Medical College for the development of grounds. It was a long-pending proposal and with the support of the Director of Medical Education (DME) and IAS officer Dr V Vinod Kumar, it will be implemented very soon. Dr V Vinod Kumar has given his approval.

Previously, DME Vinod Kumar had conducted a series of meetings with the aim of signing an MoU with ACA. He will hold more meetings with State government officials and the SMC principal.

According to sources, KDCA has no stadium to conduct practice matches among cricket trainers. ACA has a stadium at Mulapadu, but it is far from the city. That’s why KDCA wants to develop cricketing activities at the Siddhartha Medical College grounds.

Meanwhile, ACA is ready to invest in the development of SMC grounds and also construct a dressing room there. They will also hand it over to KDCA. ACA had signed an MoU with the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) for the development of Amadalavalasa stadium and SPSR Nellore stadium on a nominal rent basis. Likewise, ACA has come forward to develop SMC grounds.

However, Siddhartha Medical College Principal Dr Vittal Rao has made it clear that priority should be given to the students of his college. Also, he requested ACA to allot two cricket nets and these two proposals were accepted by ACA and KDCA. When we contacted Andhra Cricket Association Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Siva Reddy, he said ACA had more funds to develop grounds and provide facilities to the players. However, an MoU is necessary to develop the cricket grounds other than ACA grounds, he said.

“KDCA has no stadium in Vijayawada. So, we approached SMC Principal Dr Vittal Rao and he agreed to provide a playground for development. But without preparing an MoU, we cannot spend funds,” he said.

ACA is ready to sign similar MoUs with medical colleges and SAAP in all districts, he added.