Shillong, Mar 6: The Shillong Cricket Association is all set to launch a new T20 tournament, which will feature 20 teams and start from Monday.
The 1st Late PA Sangma Memorial T20 Tournament is being supported by the PA Sangma Foundation and is named for the late former Chief Minister, MP and Lok Sabha Speaker.
Eighteen teams will be from the Shillong area, while two will be from Guwahati. The 20 teams have been divided into four groups of five. The champions will receive Rs 1 lakh in prize money and the runners-up Rs 50,000, SCA Treasurer Mackie D Blah informed at a press conference today.
The first match will start at 8:30am on Monday between Lawsohtun CC and Cluster CC in Group C. Then, Sporting CC will take on Meghalaya Police at 12:30pm in Group A.
“This is a wonderful initiative of the SCA,” James PK Sangma, eldest son of the late PA Sangma, said. “I believe it will give opportunities to youngsters but will also in many other ways help establish cricket and ensure that many of our cricketers get an opportunity and develop the cricketing ecosystem.”
Sangma is also the President of the Meghalaya Cricket Association. It has now been nearly a decade since Meghalaya has been playing in BCCI domestic tournaments and consistent success still eludes the state. While some Meghalaya teams have qualified for Elite Level cricket, most other teams – in the men’s and women’s categories – play in their respective Plate Groups.
“Categorisation is one aspect but that should be seen as any kind of benchmark,” Sangma said. “What we should stress on is to create an environment for our players and provide them with good infrastructure, good coaches, physios, etc.”
The intention of the MCA and affiliated district associations “is to improve upon what we already have,” he added. Sangma referenced the two BCCI-approved grounds – Polo and Tura’s Alotgre – but said a full-fledged stadium is needed, along with at least one proper cricket ground in every district and all-weather practice facilities.
“These kinds of infrastructure are urgently required and that is what the MCA and the district associations are jointly working out a plan for. It is also incumbent on us to work in tandem with the BCCI and act as a bridge so that infrastructure to bring up cricket goes to all the districts. And then the sky is the limit because the potential here is immense,” Sangma concluded.
Group A: City Capital, Sporting CC, Sputnik CC, Meghalaya Police, Mawsyiem CC
Group B: Rhino Land, Nongmensong CC, Sputnik Spartans, Lok Bhavan, Shillong Sixers
Group C: Champions of SCA Super Division (to be decided Saturday), Lawsohtun CC, Young Guns, United XI, Cluster CC
Group D: Runners-up of SCA Super Division (to be decided Saturday), Donkins CC, Langsning CC, Winds CC, Metallica Rising CC
