Shillong, Nov 11: Concerned by young cricketers having the impossible task of balancing rigid academic requirements with the BCCI domestic schedule, the Meghalaya Cricket Association has appealed to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, for flexibility to be shown to student cricketers in the academic field.
An MCA delegation, led by Honorary Secretary Rayonald Kharkamni, met the CM in Nongpoh today accompanied by Adviser to the CM and Meghalaya Football Association President Hamletson Dohling and Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla.
Sangma gave his assurance to the delegation that the MCA’s proposal will be considered very closely. If taken up, the proposal would also benefit athletes from other recognised sports as well.
The MCA told the CM in the letter, a copy of which was presented to Shylla, that school-going cricketers are often required to participate in extended training camps and tournaments outside the state, which frequently coincide with their academic sessions and board examinations. As a result, many of them face difficulties in balancing their sporting commitments with academic requirements.
In recognition of their dedication and the honour they bring to Meghalaya through sports, the MCA has requested the state government to consider granting exemption or special academic arrangements for such students, including allowing special examinations to be conducted at a later date or by considering alternative evaluation methods, such as internal assessments, for those engaged in state representation during the examination period.
“Such a measure would serve as a strong encouragement to our young cricketers and ensure that their academic progress is not hindered by their commitment to representing Meghalaya at higher levels of competition,” the letter signed by Kharkamni stated. “We, therefore, earnestly appeal to the Department of Education to take this matter under kind consideration and formulate a suitable policy to support student players representing the state in cricket and other recognised sports.”
