Gangtok (Sikkim) [India], April 28 : The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia hailed the inauguration of six state-of-the-art Indoor Cricket Academies across North-East India as a "red-letter day" for the entire region, according to a BCCI media release.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday, virtually inaugurated the facilities during a state function in Gangtok, Sikkim, marking a significant step towards strengthening sports infrastructure and unlocking the immense sporting potential of the North-East region.
The event was attended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman and former BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, along with senior BCCI officials including President Mithun Manhas, Secretary Devajit Saikia, Vice President Rajeev Shukla, Joint Secretary Prabhtej Bhatia, Treasurer A. Raghuram Bhat, and IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal.
Devajit Saikia called the inauguration a landmark moment for North-East India, thanking Narendra Modi and Jay Shah for their roles. He said the new academies will enable year-round training, help players develop consistently, and create more opportunities for cricketers from the region to reach top levels.
"This is a momentous occasion and a red-letter day for the entire North-East, and I thank PM Narendra Modi for gracing the event and inaugurating the facilities. I thank the ICC Chair Jay Shah, for his vision and for initiating this important project back in 2022. This is a major boost, and the cricketers from the region will benefit immensely as training and preparations will continue throughout the year, giving players the consistency they need to develop their game. I am confident that this will pave the way for more players from the North-East to progress to the highest levels of the game," he said.
Developed by the BCCI, the academies are located in Rangpo (Sikkim), Doimukh (Arunachal Pradesh), Imphal (Manipur), Madankurklang (Meghalaya), Aizawl (Mizoram), and Dimapur (Nagaland). Together, they form the first truly pan-North-East high-performance cricketing ecosystem, ensuring that quality training infrastructure is distributed and accessible across regions.
Along with Jay Shah, BCCI Office Bearers and senior officials, administrators from the other five North-Eastern states also joined via video conference.
This project was conceptualised and driven by the BCCI under the leadership of Jay Shah during his tenure as Secretary, with a clear focus on strengthening cricketing ecosystems in emerging regions.
The foundation stone for these academies was laid by Shah in May 2024, setting in motion a structured effort to build world-class cricketing infrastructure in the North-East.
The academies have been designed as high-performance centres, equipped with indoor practice pitches, high-tech gymnasiums, temperature-controlled swimming pools, and dedicated administrative and training blocks. These facilities will enable year-round training, particularly addressing the challenges posed by extended monsoon seasons in the region, and significantly reduce the need for players to travel to other parts of the country for professional training.
The academies also represent a critical milestone following the inclusion of North-Eastern states in India's domestic cricket structure, reinforcing the BCCI's commitment to growth, talent identification, and athlete-centric development.
BCCI President Mithun Manhas thanked PM Modi for inaugurating the facilities, saying the initiative aims to expand cricket infrastructure nationwide and ensure players in the North-East have access to high-quality training resources like the rest of the country.
"We are grateful to the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for inaugurating these facilities. This initiative reflects a clear intent to take cricket infrastructure to every region and build a stronger, more inclusive foundation for the game. It is also a significant step in ensuring that aspiring cricketers from the North-East have access to the same quality of facilities as anywhere else in the country," he said.
BCCI VP Rajeev Shukla said the new academies will provide structure and opportunities in the North-East, fostering long-term growth. He added that the focus will be on giving players competitive exposure and clear pathways to succeed at the highest level.
"These academies bring structure and opportunity to a region that has immense potential. With a high-performance environment now in place across the North-East, we expect to see steady and sustained growth in the years ahead. The focus now will be on creating competitive exposure and pathways that allow this talent to flourish at the highest level," he said.
Prabhtej Bhatia, Joint Secretary, BCCI, said, "This is about building a long-term system and process. By investing in infrastructure and access at the grassroots level, we are laying the groundwork for future generations of cricketers from the North-East. Equally important is the ecosystem around these facilities, which will support coaching, fitness, and overall player development."
A. Raghuram Bhat, Treasurer, BCCI, said, "The BCCI remains committed to expanding the reach of cricket infrastructure across the country. These academies are an important step in strengthening the talent pipeline and ensuring that opportunities are available to players irrespective of geography. Sustained investment in such initiatives will be key to maintaining the depth and competitiveness of Indian cricket going forward."