‘BCCI officials should book a helicopter to reach airport’

Mumbai: The BCCI’s move to relocate their headquarters from Cricket Centre at Wankhede Stadium to Mumbai Cricket Association’s (MCA) extensive area in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) is yet to materialise but Nadeem Memon – a former member of the Managing Committee of MCA and secretary of the maidan – isn’t pleased with the idea.

Memon, a Sports Ground Consultant for more than a decade, believes the BCCI stamp may thwart the cricket coaching-friendly premises.

“In the long run, cricket should benefit. We need facilities for the betterment of cricket here. Now, if the BCCI people come, the whole thing will become commercial. I don’t know much about their developments. What I know is that the Managing Committee has sanctioned a gallery with at least 5,000 capacity at the BKC ground. We had also decided two large dressing rooms for the cricketers and have already paid a fee of Rs 6 crore,” said Memon.

“On top of that, food inside the club house is very costly. One vegetable sandwich and a fresh lime soda goes up to Rs 200. We also need a canteen. Apart from that, we thought about an umpire room, a physio room and one for accounts as well,” he added.

BCCI officials are keen to shift to BKC for it is closer to the airport and it will be easy for them to fly in and out smoothly.

Memon asserted: “They should book a helicopter if they feel difficulty reaching the airport from Wankhede, or maybe get down to the sea from Nariman Point. In the evening traffic, even from BKC, it takes two hours. Or maybe, they should start early.”

Memon – who has been the man behind the BKC ground – believes the focus should only be on the sport and not about the officials’ preferences.

“If BCCI ends up being here, there will be congestion. This is an academy ground and it should remain like that,” said Memon.