The 19th Apex Council Meeting and the 6th Annual General Meeting of the Meghalaya Cricket Association was held on November 23, at the Shillong Club.
The Honorary Secretary’s and Honorary Treasurer’s reports were presented and passed by the house. The MCA felicitated Sanvert Kurkalang and Lakhan Singh who had recently announced their retirement from consideration for senior men’s cricket conducted by the BCCI.
Several important resolutions were adopted regarding selection of players for state teams, eligibility of players, grassroots tournaments and other matters.
Important resolutions adopted:
- For fresh players wishing to represent Meghalaya, entry into the system from the grassroots, i.e. at the Junior levels (up to 19 years), through inter-district tournaments of the MCA or other special coaching camps conducted by the MCA at the junior levels will be mandatory.
- Lateral entry into all categories and formats directly without having played at the lower categories of the State/BCCI domestic season will not be considered. Furthermore, the affiliated district units will be mandated to hold inter-school and other tournaments in U-12 and U-14 categories from 2025-26.
- To represent Meghalaya, players will have to have been born, be permanent residents or domiciles of the state. If not, his/her parents should have been born, be permanent residents or domiciles of the state.
- Apart from point Number 3 above, BCCI guidelines for outstation players’ eligibility will also be considered if necessary.
- The MCA will introduce an age cap for those wishing to play for Meghalaya, which will be set at 35. This will be applicable from 2025-26. Players who cross the age limit can offer themselves for retirement and have scope for opportunities as trainers, coaches, etc, thereby utilising their experience for the continued benefit of cricket in the state.
- Affiliated district units will be mandated to adopt a full-proof system to select players representing the respective districts or for recommending names to the MCA for state trials.
- The MCA will organise inter-district tournaments for junior boys and girls immediately once the BCCI domestic season concludes.
- The MCA grounds at Polo, Alotgre and Nongkhrah will be utilised for such tournaments immediately after the BCCI tournaments and before the rains set in.
- After going through the activities of the new Eastern West Khasi Hills District Cricket Association, it has been found that it deserves the status of a permanent member of the MCA from 2025-26, fulfilling the guidelines and statutes of the MCA as provided in the Constitution of the Association.
- Strict disciplinary action will be taken against players who commit anti-MCA or anti-BCCI activities, either through comments, etc on social media or through action that is proven to be anti-establishment. A special committee will be constituted to draft a comprehensive policy for players’ conduct, behaviour, etc. The Ethics Officer of the MCA will be part of the said committee.
- The MCA will take up the development of the Madan Kurkalang ground in Ri-Bhoi in earnest. Urgent work like wall construction, levelling of the ground and proper signage and signboards will be erected.
- The MCA will formulate a blueprint to promote and popularise cricket from the grassroots level upwards in a structured manner with matching infrastructure set up. This Action Plan will cover short-term (3 years) and long-term (5 years) periods encompassing a holistic approach.
- Each district has been provided with a set of computers for better documentation of players, especially with regards to the BCCI’s compulsory athlete monitoring app-based software and to keep records of district activities.
