PM Modi inaugurates BCCI indoor cricket academies in North-East

The BCCI inaugurated six indoor cricket academies across North-East India, virtually launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The facilities aim to strengthen cricket infrastructure, promote talent development, and provide year-round training opportunities across Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland

Hyderabad: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday marked a significant milestone in the expansion of cricket infrastructure with the inauguration of six state-of-the-art indoor cricket academies across North-East India by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi.

The Prime Minister virtually inaugurated the facilities during a state function in Gangtok, Sikkim, marking a significant step towards strengthening sports infrastructure and unlocking the sporting potential of the North-East region.

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Developed by the BCCI, the academies are located in Rangpo (Sikkim), Doimukh (Arunachal Pradesh), Imphal (Manipur), Madankurklang (Meghalaya), Aizawl (Mizoram) and Dimapur (Nagaland). Together, they form the first truly pan-North-East high-performance cricket ecosystem, ensuring that quality training infrastructure is distributed and accessible across regions.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Mr Jay Shah, Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), along with BCCI office bearers and senior officials, while administrators from the other five North-Eastern states joined via video conference.

This project was conceptualised and driven by the BCCI under the leadership of Mr Jay Shah during his tenure as Secretary, with a clear focus on strengthening cricket ecosystems in emerging regions. The foundation stone for these academies was laid by Mr Shah in May 2024, setting in motion a structured effort to build world-class cricket infrastructure in the North-East.

The academies have been designed as high-performance centres equipped with indoor practice pitches, high-tech gymnasiums, temperature-controlled swimming pools, and dedicated administrative and training blocks. These facilities will enable year-round training, particularly addressing the challenges posed by extended monsoon seasons in the region, and will significantly reduce the need for players to travel to other parts of the country for professional training.

The academies also represent a critical milestone following the inclusion of North-Eastern states in India’s domestic cricket structure, reinforcing the BCCI’s commitment to growth, talent identification, and athlete-centric development.

Mithun Manhas, President, BCCI, said they were grateful to Mr Modi for inaugurating the 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,” he said.

Devajit Saikia, Honorary Secretary, BCCI, said it was a momentous occasion and a red-letter day for the entire North-East, and he thanked Mr Modi for gracing the event and inaugurating the facilities.

Rajeev Shukla, Vice President, BCCI, said these academies bring structure and opportunity to a region that has immense potential.

Prabhtej Bhatia, Joint Secretary, BCCI, and Mr A Raghuram Bhat, Treasurer, BCCI, also lauded the new facilities.