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Former India pacer and bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad will contest in the Karnataka State Cricket Association elections, joined by veteran administrator Vinay Mruthyunjaya.
Former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad (Instagram)
Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad is set to contest in the upcoming Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) elections, tentatively scheduled between October and November.
Prasad, an experienced coach, selector, and administrator, previously served as vice-president from 2013 to 2016 under Anil Kumble’s presidency at KSCA. Since then, Prasad has focused on his coaching career and worked as a pundit and commentator in the media.
The 56-year-old, who was India’s bowling coach during the 2006-2007 season, also served on the coaching staff of Punjab Kings, formerly Kings XI Punjab. Prasad will be joined by veteran administrator Vinay Mruthyunjaya, a former KSCA treasurer and member of the BCCI Finance Committee.
What Is Venkatesh Prasad’s Record?
In Test cricket, he played 33 matches, delivering 7,041 balls and taking 96 wickets at an average of 35.00, with his best innings figures being 6 for 33 and one ten-wicket haul. In ODIs, he participated in 161 games, securing 196 wickets from 8,129 deliveries at an average of 32.30, with best figures of 5 for 27 and an economy rate of 4.67. In first-class cricket, Prasad played 123 matches, claiming 361 wickets at an average of 27.75, with his best figures being 7 for 37, including 18 five-wicket hauls and 3 ten-wicket hauls. In List A cricket, he took 295 wickets in 236 matches at 29.72, with best figures of 6 for 18. Throughout the 1990s, Prasad built a reputation as a reliable strike bowler for India across formats.
Prasad and Mruthyunjaya are expected to announce their full panel in the coming days. The current KSCA administration led by Raghuram Bhatt will end its term on September 30.
The current officials face criticism after 11 fans died in a stampede near the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebrations. KSCA secretary Shankar A and treasurer ES Jairam stepped down, taking moral responsibility for the incident, after the state cabinet approved criminal procedures against association officials, top RCB names, and event management firm DNA.
Legal proceedings are underway following the findings from the cabinet-appointed one-man Justice D’Cunha Commission submitted to the government and the state High Court. Currently, the KSCA secretary and treasurer positions are vacant, and if plans go accordingly, Mruthyunjaya might return to the role.
Additionally, former India skipper and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, who captained Prasad, is set to re-enter administration by likely filing nomination for the president’s post in the upcoming Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) elections.
(With inputs from PTI)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha… Read More
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