BHUBANESWAR 13-Jul-2014 207
Cricket clubs of twin city Bhubaneswar and Cuttack may be down, but not yet out. Known as the nurseries of the game in Odisha, producing three internationals (Debasis Mohanty, Shiv Sundar Das, Sanjay Raul) and scores of first-class cricketers during 80s and 90s, these clubs are now slowly regaining their foothold by aligning with the professional requirements of the game, including upgrading of infrastructure facility, coaching method and marketing of events.
Bhubaneswar-based Mukteswar Cricket Club (MCC) showed the signs of progress on the occasion of release of the souvenir of its N M Bhuyan Memorial Cricket Tournament at a city hotel here on Sunday. Joining the function, current and past cricketers of eminence recalled the sweet memories of club cricket and expressed optimism for the revival of club-culture in the state.
``Cricket clubs not only nurtured talents, but also helped inculcate virtues such as dedication, discipline, hard work, friendship and above all passion for the game. But the professionalization of the sport hit these clubs hard. However, I am happy that clubs are now a days showing signs of recovery,’’ said Ashokananda Jena, who scored 1020 runs in 26 first-class matches he played during a 13-year-long career, spanning from 1961 to 1974.
Former India Test opener Shiv Sundar Das, a product of Bhubaneswar-based Pragati Sporting Club, thanked club cricket for helping him come thus far. ``I scored the first century of my life in the Birupakshya Nanda Memorial Tournament, which was organized by MCC,’’ revealed Das, now the batting coach of Odisha senior team.
Former India swing bowler Debasis Mohanty exhorted club cricketers to do their job with sincerity and discipline. ``Do whatever you want to do in life. But do it with utmost sincerity and discipline. This is the best thing that club cricket taught me,’’ observed Mohanty, now the head coach of Odisha Cricket Association (OCA).
OCA treasurer Satya Mohanty, MCC vice-presidents Gurjit Singh, Naba Ranjan Patnaik and secretary Prasanta Mohapatra also spoke on the occasion.
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PHOTO: Eminent past cricketers (L to R) Ashokananda Jena, Shiv Sundar Das, Debasis Mohanty and Prasanta Mohapatra release the MCC souvenir in Bhubaneswar on July 13, 2014.
