KSCA elections: Shanth Kumar’s team focused on youth development

Bengaluru: Team Brijesh Patel, which will be led by presidential candidate KN Shanth Kumar, Director of The Printers (Mysore) Private Limited that publishes Deccan Herald and Prajavani, on Friday unveiled their manifesto for the upcoming KSCA elections where they said their main focus would be to boost grass-root cricket and revitalise the Chinnaswamy Stadium to enhance fan experience.

Among the main points listed out in their manifesto are: reviving the ‘Champions of Champions’ tournament where league winners from zones compete against each other (both men and women); ensuring most matches are played on turf pitches; launching the ‘Catch Them Young’ initiative at U-12 level and subsequently reviving inter-collegiate tournaments and establish a structured calendar window for inter-club tournaments across age groups.

Shanth Kumar, who served as the president of the Karnataka Olympic Association between 1993 and 95, said he’s hoping to use his rich experience of watching sports from close quarters if elected as the head of KSCA. “I think I bring with me a very rich experience that I have gathered for many decades. I believe whatever we achieve, whatever we try and get to do, and what we hope to achieve, will all be done as a team, just like a game of cricket,” Shanth Kumar told the media.

“It’s a matter of teamwork. It’s not some individual magic that anybody is going to bring this. So, I firmly believe in team work and hope to provide leadership to this team. And if elected as the president, I only hope to be the first among equals. That’s what I believe in.”

Shanth Kumar said the focus will be on youth development because they are the future. “On top comes the infrastructure development. Of course, over the last few decades, a lot of work has been done by successful committees. We intend to further that development across the State with a special focus on Bengaluru.

“We will focus on youth and how best we can develop their talents. We would create indoor facilities which would enable our players to play and practice in all kinds of conditions. The sports centre will be refurbished.”

Brijesh, a long-time administrator at the state association and the BCCI, believed Shanth Kumar has the expertise to steer KSCA, currently going through a turbulent time, to a brighter future. “There’s a discussion that great cricketers automatically make great administrators. These are two different ball games.

“We have a very experienced presidential candidate in Shanth Kumar. He’s played cricket and has been involved in sports for many years. He is very well aware of the requirements of a sports organisation. He has tremendous experience in management, and this is what is required for the KSCA at present.”

Cricket has come to a standstill at the Chinnaswamy Stadium since the June 4 stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebrations that led to the death of 11 fans. Shanth Kumar, while condoling the tragedy, said enhancing the fan experience is one of their top priorities.

“The fans are a very important part of our ecosystem and we will work hard to improve and give them a high level of satisfaction in their experience. They should be able to come and enjoy cricket.”