Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad has officially announced his candidacy for the president's post in the upcoming elections of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), set to take place on November
30. His panel has received robust backing from Karnataka legends Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath.
Candidates can submit their nominations from Wednesday until November 16, marking the end of the tenure of the Raghuram Bhatt-led administration on September 30.
"I will be contesting for the post of president. We need to get cricket back to Chinnaswamy Stadium, and for that we need an administration free of back-seat driving," Prasad stated during a press address announcing his candidature.
His panel includes Sujith Somasundar (vice-president), Vinay Mruthynjaya (secretary), AV Shashidhar (joint secretary), Madhukar (treasurer), and Avinash Vaidya (institutional member, Bengaluru Zone).
Somasundar has resigned as the Head of Education at the BCCI Centre of Excellence to take part in the state elections. "My answer is very simple - the purpose was bigger for me. That's why it drove me here. I know I have spent a lot of years at the COE, trying to shape and develop the coaches and also help the Indian cricket education. But somewhere deep down, I could see that our own cricket ecosystem back home was losing its direction. It's not about position or power. I think, like I said, it's about restoring pride," he explained.
Prasad emphasized that his team aims to revive the success Karnataka cricket experienced between 2010 and 2013, when Kumble, Srinath, and he himself led the association. "That is when I was the vice-president, Anil Kumble was the president and Javagal Srinath was the secretary. Those are the only three years we never allowed anybody to take control or to drive this association from behind - the backseat driving syndrome. We didn't allow that to happen. And that's when cricket flourished, cricket infrastructure flourished. Now, it pains me to see the infrastructure, especially at the mofussil centres. We need to change it, and that will be our effort," he said.
Kumble echoed similar sentiments, expressing hope that new leadership could restore the lost glory of Karnataka cricket. "The reason we are here is because we felt that Karnataka cricket is suffering and one of the reasons why we are here is to make a difference and that was one of the reasons why we got into administration 15 years ago as well. Now, it seems like whatever happened in those three years, everything has been undone and right throughout the time that we were away from the association," said Kumble.
Reflecting on the June 4 stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium during RCB's victory celebrations, Kumble said, "June 4th was a black mark for all of us. We certainly feel very hurt and we are all with the families of the lives that were lost. That cannot be undone. But I think what can certainly be done is to again retain the glory of Karnataka cricket. Karnataka is, in terms of Ranji Trophies, we are only second to Mumbai and that glory has been lost over the years. "
He also pointed out the absence of Karnataka players in India's recent Women's World Cup-winning squad, saying, "The recent historical victory by the women's cricket team, we are all extremely proud of the girls. The way they went and won the tournament when halfway stage it seemed like they may not qualify and with an important member (Pratika Rawal) missing out of the semifinal and the final and then the replacement coming in (Shafali Verma) and winning the player of the final, this is something truly amazing. But what was very evident was we didn't have a representative there. I think that's something that needs to change as well. "
Srinath, too, emphasized the importance of effective governance. "I think one of the words he (Prasad) has coined is brilliant. Backseat syndrome, that has to stop. When this KSCA has some dignity and respect, you don't need backseat driving. One of the points which Venky made and which we were able to achieve in around three years, we built 13 grounds. Look, when one group hands over the responsibility to the other, you need to add more infrastructure, you need to add more games and give opportunity to more kids. That is what this association stands for," he concluded.
