BCCI launches six state-of-the-art Indoor Cricket Academies across North-East India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated six state-of-the-art Indoor cricket academies across North-East India on Tuesday, April 28, as a part of the expansion of cricketing infrastructure by the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India).

PM Modi virtually inaugurated the facilities during a state function in Gangtok, Sikkim, to strengthen sports infrastructure and unlock the sporting potential of the North-East region.

The academies are located in Rangpo (Sikkim), Doimukh (Arunachal Pradesh), Imphal (Manipur), Madankurklang (Meghalaya), Aizawl (Mizoram), and Dimapur (Nagaland).

The inauguration ceremony was attended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Jay Shah, along with other BCCI Office Bearers and senior officials. The administrators from the other five North-Eastern states joined via video conference. Notably, the foundation stone for these academies was also laid by Jay Shah in May 2024 during his tenure as BCCI Secretary.

The academies have been designed as high-performance centres, with built-in indoor practice pitches, high-tech gymnasiums, temperature-controlled swimming pools, and dedicated administrative and training blocks, according to a statement by BCCI.

The new academies will allow the players from the north-east region to train all year round, considering the hindrances caused by the extended monsoon seasons in the region. It will also reduce the need for players to travel to other parts of the country for professional training.

BCCI officials explain the vision behind project

BCCI President Mithun Manhas thanked PM Modi for inaugurating the facilities and explained how they will help build more inclusive foundation for the game.

“We are grateful to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for inaugurating these facilities. This initiative reflects a clear intent to take cricket infrastructure to every region and build a stronger, more inclusive foundation for the game. It is also a significant step in ensuring that aspiring cricketers from the North-East have access to the same quality of facilities as anywhere else in the country,” said Manhas in a media release.

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia also explained how the new facilities will benefit the cricketers from north-east region.

“This is a momentous occasion and a red-letter day for the entire North-East, and I thank the Honourable PM Shri Narendra Modi for gracing the event and inaugurating the facilities. I thank the ICC Chair Mr Jay Shah, for his vision and for initiating this important project back in 2022. This is a major boost, and the cricketers from the region will benefit immensely as training and preparations will continue throughout the year, giving players the consistency they need to develop their game. I am confident that this will pave the way for more players from the North-East to progress to the highest levels of the game,” said Saikia in a media release.