CALCUTTA (India): Indian state West Bengal has called a meeting on Friday with 17 sports associations including cricket and football to discuss on the resumption of sports.
Most tournaments in the current season have already been called off due to the nationwide lockdown that was enforced in the last week of March to contain the Covid-19.
Sports associations including the state’s football body (Indian Football Association) are now looking for an early start to the next season.
“West Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas has called a meeting at the state secretariat tomorrow afternoon to discuss the way forward. We are hopeful for an October start to the Calcutta League,” Indian Football Association secretary Joydeep Mukherjee told PTI.
The IFA top official also called on Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) chief Avishek Dalmiya to discuss on ground sharing and avoid any possible clashes as both football and cricket seasons are likely to run parallel this time.
The Maidan grounds, which are leased from the Ministry of Defence, are used for football, cricket and hockey for four months’ each in a year.
“We had a positive meeting with IFA. We may actually start the pitch preparation earlier than when it is usually done every year,” Avishek said in a CAB statement.
“With this season as good as over we have started preparations for next season. We have no certainty when we will be able to begin next season. We are preparing beforehand so that the season can begin early,” said CAB secretary Snehashis Ganguly.
The CAB has also formed guidelines for resumption of its office, based on suggestions provided by its medical committee headed by top doctors of the city.
