Former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad has committed to revitalizing top-tier cricket at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium if elected president in the forthcoming Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) elections set for November 30.
Prasad has teamed up with former India and Karnataka opener Sujith Somasunder, receiving strong endorsements from cricket legends Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath. Vinay Mrutyunjaya, a former KSCA official, will vie for the secretary position on their panel. Both Prasad and Somasunder previously held roles within the KSCA during Kumble’s presidency from 2010 to 2013 and during which Srinath served as secretary.
The campaign also features Shantha Rangaswamy, the former captain of the India Women’s team, and ex-cricketer V Kalpana. Although Rangaswamy is ineligible to contest due to age restrictions, Kalpana is anticipated to play a significant role in the team.
Prasad will compete against KN Shanth Kumar, who is backed by veteran KSCA administrator Brijesh Patel. Kumar has previously served as a non-playing captain for India in the 2002 Asian Games and was involved with the Indian Golf Union board.
“Karnataka cricket has been suffering, and Venky is here to make a difference. All the progress we made during our three-year tenure [2010-2013] has been undone in recent years. The most common question we receive is, ‘when are you coming back?'” Kumble stated to reporters.
Kumble emphasized that two critical stakeholders—cricketers and fans—have been overlooked. He pointed out the significance of Karnataka’s lack of representation in light of the recent Women’s World Cup victory. “That needs to change,” he insisted.
In recalling a tragic incident, Kumble described the stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s victory parade in June as a “black mark, black day.” He called on the panel to “restore the stadium’s legacy as a temple of cricket.”
Prasad indicated his team’s intention to collaborate with the state government to address ongoing disputes and comply with safety regulations, which have restricted stadium use to amateur matches recently. “We believe in holding constructive discussions with the government and adhering to the guidelines from the safety audit report,” he remarked. Furthermore, he proposed the establishment of a dedicated women’s cricket academy at the same site as the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, formerly the National Cricket Academy.
