Sports Council to Host IPL Matches in Rajasthan
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Synopsis
The Rajasthan government has confirmed that the Sports Council will be in charge of organizing IPL matches in the state. This decision comes amid ongoing discussions about the role of the RCA. Key officials express pride and emphasize the importance of hosting these matches locally.
Key Takeaways
- Sports Council to manage IPL matches in Rajasthan.
- RCA officials confirm the Sports Council's advantage.
- Wider audience access through multiple venues.
- Timely elections for RCA remain a concern.
- Government aims for a cleaner IPL system.
Jaipur, Feb 20 (NationPress) Amidst disputes regarding the hosting of IPL matches in Rajasthan, the state government has clarified that the Sports Council will oversee the tournament's organization. Neeraj K. Pawan, the Secretary of the Youth Affairs and Sports Department, confirmed to IANS that the IPL matches in Rajasthan will be managed by the Sports Council. A letter has been sent to the BCCI, which has been acknowledged.
Former RCA officials had earlier indicated to IANS that the Sports Council holds a significant advantage and is likely to organize the forthcoming series of IPL matches in the state.
In addition to Pawan and RCA officials, Dhananjay Singh Khinvsar, a member of the ad hoc committee and son of Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khinvsar, has also verified that the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches in Rajasthan will be conducted under the authority of the Rajasthan State Sports Council.
Khinvsar remarked that the BCCI has delegated the task of organizing IPL matches in the state to the Sports Council.
He emphasized that the opportunity to host IPL matches in Rajasthan is a significant achievement for everyone involved. However, he suggested that all seven IPL matches allocated to Rajasthan should ideally take place within the state.
Furthermore, Khinvsar advocated for staging matches not just at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium but also at Jodhpur’s Barkatullah Khan Stadium, enabling a broader audience to enjoy live IPL action.
On February 10, Jaideep Bihani, convener of the Rajasthan Cricket Association’s (RCA) ad hoc committee, reached out to Neeraj Kumar Pawan, Secretary of the Sports Department, requesting that IPL matches be organized under the RCA's management. He urged for the Sawai Mansingh Stadium to be handed over to the ad hoc committee by February 15.
However, with the Sports Council failing to transfer control even by February 19, Bihani expressed his intention to take the matter up with the Chief Minister. Bihani asserted that the ad hoc committee had successfully managed major cricket events over the season. "I will discuss this issue with the Chief Minister again, and we will respect his decision. Our primary aim is to ensure a premier cricketing experience in Rajasthan to elevate our players and the state’s cricketing talent on both national and international platforms," Bihani stated.
He mentioned that the CM would ultimately decide on this matter, although RCA officials voiced their frustration about the association's failure to conduct timely elections, which has rendered the association increasingly irrelevant.
It is pertinent to note that the RCA was dissolved last year, leading to the formation of an ad hoc committee. It was previously announced that RCA elections would occur within six months; however, this has yet to happen. Consequently, the Sports Council has stepped up to organize IPL matches in Rajasthan.
In the meantime, state Minister Rajyawardhan Rathore confirmed in a discussion with IANS that the government is committed to reforming the system surrounding the IPL.
