Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr Manik Saha on Friday said that the Tripura Cricket Association (TCA) should focus on bringing in good quality players not only from Agartala but also from rural areas, and emphasized that without infrastructure development, good quality cricket players cannot be produced.

“Coaches and related staff will have to play a special role in producing good players in the state. Tripura has now moved to the top level in all aspects, including sports,” said Dr Saha.

The Chief Minister made these remarks while inaugurating a voluntary blood donation camp and two battery-powered Drinks cars at the MBB Stadium, an initiative organized by the Tripura Cricket Association.

Dr Saha said on the occasion, “I have been with the Tripura Cricket Association for more than two and a half years. As the president, I have tried to take cricket further. Now, many people in the current committee were also present during my tenure. Many have taken on new responsibilities. Almost all of them are directly or indirectly associated with cricket. The most important thing is to maintain transparency. The new committee is also trying to work with transparency. Our main objective is to bring new, talented cricket players to Tripura. We should scout good quality players not only from Agartala but also from rural areas. A lot of thought went into this when I was the president.”

He also mentioned that halls are being built in various sub-divisions for practice.

“This will be of great benefit. If the infrastructure is not developed, cricket players cannot be produced under any circumstances. And there is no alternative to practice for players. Practice should be maintained at home apart from on the field. In this regard, coaches should provide proper coaching to the players. The coaches and other staff should monitor the students closely. They should observe what the players are doing or not doing and be aware of their problems. If proper monitoring is not done, there will be no benefit, even after spending money,” he said.

Dr Saha added that there is no lack of talent among the youth of Tripura.

“Tripura has now reached the top level in all aspects, including sports. Tripura is now considered a front-runner state in every field. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has named our North Eastern region ‘Ashtalakshmi’. He said there should be healthy competition among these Ashtalakshmi states. Even though we are a small province, we are trying our best to improve in every aspect,” he said.

Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Tinku Roy, SBI General Manager Debashish Chandra Das, Tripura Cricket Association President Tapan Lodh, Secretary Subrata Dey, along with other members and players, were present at the event as distinguished guests.