BCCI preparing for Platinum Jubilee

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has drawn up a series of literary and cricketing programmes to celebrate its Platinum Jubilee at the end of the year.

Although the BCCI is yet to finalise all its programmes, a comprehensive book on Indian cricket history, an audio- visual cassette on cricketers of different eras and a few cricket matches have been planned to commemorate the occasion.

The BCCI has approached noted historian Boria Majumdar to compile a "total and authenticated" historical book on Indian cricket which should be ready by December, when the year-long Platinum Jubilee celebrations get underway.

The Board had also formed a Heritage Committee, chaired by former India captain G S Ramchand, which will deal with historical and heritage projects proposed to be taken up during the year. The other members of the committee are Ajit Wadekar, Polly Umrigar, Bapu Nadkarni, K N Prabhu and Sharad Diwadkar, BCCI sources said.

The Heritage Committee has already started the work of identifying the various projects it will take up.

An audio-visual cassette on famous cricketers, from 1940 till date, highlighting their achievements has also been planned.

"The famous players of each decade will be taken up and highlighted. It will have some exciting visuals," the sources said.

Board president Jagmohan Dalmiya is also keen that a book be compiled on Ranji Trophy records and wants to take up the venture as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

"Every year we come out with an annual report on Ranji Trophy records but we want to bring out a compilation of all the records," the sources said.

Apart from organising a few cricket matches, the BCCI is also planning to organise a "cricket week" during the year which will have seminars, workshops, clinics and other cricketing activities.

"The cricket week was very successful when the International Cricket Council launched it. We have plans of doing something similar," the sources said.

The Board is also exploring ways to bridge the payment gap between international and first class cricketers and may use the occasion to announce a new fee structure for cricketers.

The platinum jubilee programmes will be finalised at the BCCI's Annual General Body Meeting in September. The exact date and the venue of the AGM will be decided by the Working Committee which will meet in Channai on August 21 and 22.