Chandigarh, September 18
A special scheme to facilitate students from the rural areas to watch all international games- Twenty20, one-day internationals (ODIs) and Test matches — to be organised by the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) anywhere in the state — will become operational from the second Test against the Aussies to be played at the PCA Stadium, Mohali, from October 17 to 21.
The top PCA management accepts that cricket is no more an urban entity or monopoly and its clientele now cuts across all sections of society, including those residing in the rural areas. In the absence of any facilities in the rural areas, people in general and the youth in particular, cannot witness international matches.
From now onwards, the PCA will bear the cost of entry tickets and refreshments to be served to students of five rural schools on all days of a Test. A minimum of 15000 to 20,000 students from rural schools will be able to watch the Test with all their expenses on travel, tickets and refreshments to be borne by either the PCA or the state government.
In case of ODIs or Twenty20 matches, the number of students who will benefit from this gesture will be 5000 to 10,000 per game.
The logistic support, it has been agreed, will come from either the state government or the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). This will include to-and- fro transportation of rural students.
The unusual decision that reminds the cash-rich PCA of its duty and responsibility to provide the less-privileged rural youth an opportunity to watch international cricket on a par with their urban counterparts was taken at the first meeting of its organising committee for the Test against Australia.
The suggestion came from chairman of the committee Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is also the president of the SAD. Sources said that Sukhbir’s idea was unanimously accepted by all members of the organising committee.
Sukhbir’s stress on increased PCA role in the promotion of sports did not end with this hospitality for rural guests. He also wanted the PCA to generously donate or contribute to the promotion of other important team sports like hockey and football.
The Punjab Government, he said, wanted to construct a hockey stadium of international standards in Mohali for which it would earmark a piece of land. The PCA, he was reportedly assured, would provide substantial financial support for the construction of the proposed stadium.
