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Venkatesh Prasad unveiled his panel’s KSCA election manifesto at Chinnaswamy Stadium, aiming to revive cricket after a tragic stampede.
M Chinnaswamy Stadium (Picture Credit: X)
The main focus of the function at Chinnaswamy Stadium was to bring cricket back, where former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad made a significant move towards contesting in the upcoming KSCA elections by unveiling his panel’s manifesto on Wednesday.
Following the tragic stampede on June 4 that resulted in the loss of 11 Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans, no matches have been held at this iconic venue, which now risks losing next month’s ICC Women’s World Cup matches.
“That’s something that shouldn’t have happened, (stampede) honestly. We have to be very proactive in liaising with the (state) government. We have to ensure that matches are played in Chinnaswamy Stadium as soon as possible,” Prasad said during a press conference after revealing the manifesto.
Prasad hinted that his panel will have 16 members, though he didn’t name them at this time.
The KSCA elections could be held in October or November as the current regime, headed by Raghuram Bhat, completes its three-year term on September 30.
“We need to bring back the lost glory of the stadium. We want to bring back international cricket. We have seen that every international match has been moved out of Bangalore.
“It’s such an iconic venue — Chinnaswamy Stadium, which has been standing for the last 50 years. This is unprecedented, moving international matches out. It’s not a good thing,” added Prasad.
Prasad and his fellow panellist Vinay Mruthyunjaya know the path ahead, if elected, is challenging, and they have plans to revive cricket in a stadium that has witnessed many memorable moments.
One key point in the manifesto is refurbishing Chinnaswamy and transforming it into a smart stadium.
“As a long-term strategy, we want to develop Chinnaswamy Stadium into a future-ready smart stadium with cutting-edge facilities. We also want to set up another world-class stadium in Mysuru,” said Mruthyunjaya.
Increasing the venue’s capacity from the current 35,000 to at least 50,000 is also a priority for the aspiring panellists.
“There will be no compromise on the safety of fans or spectators. We might not reach 80,000, but increasing to 50,000 from the current 34,000-35,000 is possible. We need to work on that with architects,” said Prasad.
Both Prasad and Mruthyunjaya have experience in administration, having served as vice-president and treasurer, respectively, during the administration led by Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath.
What prompted Prasad, who has since turned to coaching and the media, to return to administration?
“Vinay and Santosh (Menon) approached me about the upcoming elections and discussed what we can do (to restore cricket) if we come back to power. I always had the thought of getting into administration at some point.
“So, that’s why we are here, to release a manifesto and outline what this team aims to achieve. If we gain power, you’ve all seen the manifesto, and we plan to do a lot for men’s cricket, which hasn’t been happening.
“There has been no structure for men’s or women’s cricket (in Karnataka) or even for the banks and industries. Those matches haven’t happened in recent years, not just international matches,” he detailed.
Former India women’s captain Shanta Rangaswamy also attended the function, emphasising the need to revive women’s cricket in the state.
“We haven’t seen much women’s cricket in the last three years. I’m told, subject to correction, that even men’s cricket took a backseat as their tournaments weren’t fully conducted. So, we want to launch structured (women’s) leagues equivalent to men’s tournaments for all age groups,” said Rangaswamy.
During the press meet, Prasad was asked about his opinion on India’s upcoming match against Pakistan in the Asia Cup.
The former pacer, who has many unforgettable on-field memories against the arch-rivals, said the correct path will be decided by the BCCI.
“As far as I know, bilateral (matches) are going to be, and it’s a huge issue. I’m with the BCCI in whatever stand they take.
“Whatever decision they make, I’m sure it’s in the interest of the country’s citizens. So, if they are taking a decision, so be it,” he said.
A cricket enthusiast whose dreams of playing for India paved the way for a compelling journey in journalism. With a comprehensive coverage spanning international and domestic cricket across formats, I have had …Read More
A cricket enthusiast whose dreams of playing for India paved the way for a compelling journey in journalism. With a comprehensive coverage spanning international and domestic cricket across formats, I have had … Read More
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