MCA Seeks Land for Women's Cricket Academy in Mumbai Region

Mumbai, Nov 7 (PTI) The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is seeking the Maharashtra government's help in securing a plot of land in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region for a groundbreaking initiative—a residential women's cricket academy. Ajinkya Naik, president of the MCA, formally communicated this request to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis through a letter submitted on Friday. This strategic move by the MCA follows India's phenomenal victory in the Women's ODI World Cup. In its letter, MCA emphasized its longstanding dedication to cultivating cricket talents by offering cutting-edge infrastructure to players in Mumbai and its surrounding areas. To further boost the advancement of women's cricket, the MCA plans to establish a specialized Residential Women's Cricket Academy in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).” The academy aims to be an epicenter of excellence, equipped with comprehensive facilities such as turf grounds, indoor practice areas, residential accommodations, a gymnasium, physiotherapy and sports medicine services, plus classrooms dedicated to academic and life-skill development. The MCA noted that women cricketers currently face the challenge of traveling long distances for practice, which the new academy intends to mitigate. “Women's players are currently required to undertake long commutes across Mumbai and its suburbs for practice, leading to fatigue, wasted time, and logistical difficulties, especially for those coming from far-off areas,” the MCA stated. The envisioned residential academy aims to alleviate these challenges by presenting a central hub for training and living, allowing players to concentrate more on their skills and holistic growth.