Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Feb 16: RSC Port Blair is going to conduct T-20 Cricket tournament from 18th of this month. All the matches are stated to be played in the day. This is not going to attract much crowd. But the case was different around 18 years back when there was no separate directorate for Sports. In those days there used to be matches in the night under flood light. This attracted more people towards cricket.
In the absence of a genuine evening destination and due to lack of any entertainment facility at night, this flood light cricket used to be the centre of attraction for all Port blairians and tourists alike. Large crowd used to gather at Netaji Stadium not only to watch cricket but also to spend some quality evening time. People thronged the venue to spend some quality time watching cricket and to enjoy the evening with their family.
The situation which was supposed to improve after formation of a full-fledged Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs has depleted with passing of time. After Tsunami devastation, the Island took a big leap towards development. But Sports was not given the due importance it deserved.
Now the situation is that the administration is not aware of the potential in sports. Nothing has been done for developing more infrastructures. Only change is that the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports became Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs. The department which was functioning with bare minimum staff has swelled with a large number of underperforming staffs that seems to be less concerned about development of Sports.
It is now the correct time to bounce back and revisit the past glory and take forward the mantle of promoting sports as well as give some good time to Islanders who are trying hard to find an evening location for them and their family. Sport lovers question why there is no evening cricket when there is enough facility for the same?
