By IANS,
New Delhi : Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sharad Pawar Tuesday inaugurated the floodlights of the Ferozshah Kotla cricket stadium here before the Indian Premier League kicks off Monday.
Terming the day as a historic occasion for Delhi’s cricket, Pawar said that with the inauguration of Kotla floodlights the demand and desire to improve the condition of the stadium has been fulfilled.
“The BCCI has contributed Rs.27 crore (Rs.270 million) to the Delhi District and Cricket Association (DDCA) for the infrastructure development of the stadium and will give more in future to improve the stadium’s quality,” Pawar told reporters.
The BCCI president also said that the board is determined to improve the infrastructure of stadiums throughout the country.
“Whatever money BCCI earns is essentially passed on to the state associations for the infrastructure development and welfare of the game,” he said.
He also said that the cash-rich Indian cricket board is the only board in the world to have taken the responsibility of former players.
“Cricketers who have played 1 to 25 Tests for the country are eligible to get Rs.25,000 per month as pension and those who have played more than 25 Tests will get Rs.35,000 per month,” informed Pawar.
He also praised Delhi cricketers, saying at present the capital has more representation in the national team and at the junior level than Mumbai, which was once considered the hub of Indian cricket.
DDCA president Arun Jaitley thanked International Cricket Council principal adviser and Punjab Cricket Association president I.S. Bindra for changing the face of Mohali cricket stadium.
“We should be thankful to I.S. Bindra for the Mohali stadium that raised the level of quality for other stadiums and inspired other associations to re-build their infrastructure,” Jaitley said.
“We have completed two phases of constructions of Kotla. In the next phase, we will build an international standard health club for the players and members. We will also have indoor practice facility and an office-cum-residential room for utility of the players,” Jaitely said.
The DDCA also felicitated Virender Sehwag and gifted him a Rolex watch for his second triple century, which he scored against South Africa at Chennai.
Apart from Sehwag, the Delhi Ranji team has also been felicitated with Rs.5 million for winning this season’s Ranji Trophy.
Cricket Association chairman Creagh O’Connor and CEO James Sutherland were also present on the occasion.