Clubs must elect panel to build Int’l Stadium in Goa: Rohan Gauns Dessai

PANAJI

BCCI Joint Secretary and former Secretary, Goa Cricket Association (GCA) Rohan Gauns Dessai feels that the clubs should elect a managing committee which will build an international cricket stadium in Goa within next two years.

GCA elections will be held on 24 August 2025 to elect its new managing committee, two months ahead of its schedule.

The three-year term of the current managing committee of which Vipul Phadke is the GCA President expires in October 2025. Like last elections, a stiff competition is expected between Chetan Desai and Vinod Phadke panels, both former GCA Presidents, to elect the new managing committee.

Last week, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed the Goa Legislative Assembly that the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) has two years to begin work on the proposed cricket stadium at Dhargal in Pernem taluka or risk losing the 1.89 lakh square metres of government land leased to it.

Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar informed the assembly that GCA had shown no progress on the project despite signing an agreement nearly seven years ago.

In that context, the upcoming GCA elections hold a lot of importance.

“When the next elections happen on 24 August, the various cricket clubs should elect a managing committee which will work on building an international cricket stadium in Goa, “ said Rohan Gauns Dessai, former Secretary, Goa Cricket Association (GCA).

“There should not be any politics in sports. Politics should be done where it is needed to be done, not in sports. I have never faced any politics in my tenure as GCA secretary. I was always helpful and provided my full cooperation to all the clubs,” Dessai said.

The BCCI Joint Secretary further added, “My only regret is that during my tenure, I did not anticipate that there will a lot of confusion regarding construction of the new international cricket stadium in Goa. In that regard, we have fallen short. I feel that all the clubs must come together and co-operate in constructing the new stadium. Only then GCA as an organization will be successful."

Goa has been deprived of international cricket since last 15 years. The last ODI match held at Fatorda stadium, Margao was on 24 October 2010 between India and Australia. But, that game was a washout due to soggy outfield.

In a span of 21 years from 1989 – 2010, Fatorda stadium hosted nine ODI matches.