The construction of the international cricket stadium in Dehradun has already started but the State cricket association is still struggling to get Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) affiliation. According to State Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Dinesh Aggarwal, there are only few matches which cannot be organised without the affiliation of BCCI.
Interestingly, it has been 13 years since the formation of Uttarakhand but cricket association in the State is still waiting to get BCCI affiliation. The delay in affiliation has been affecting the promotion of cricket in the state and affecting the chances of good cricketers of Uttarakhand to progress to national-level cricket. Many of Uttarakhand's cricket players presently have to go to other states for better prospects in cricket.
Aggarwal said, "We are trying our best to facilitate BCCI affiliation for the state cricket association soon". He also said that the international stadium will be an asset to the state and would give a boost to sports as well as tourism in the state. "Building the new stadium with all the essential facilities will enable us to organise international cricket matches and Indian Premier league (IPl) matches here," he added.
He also said that international stadium will provide better platform and international facilities to the young cricketers of the state and BCCI affiliation is not necessary for conducting every game as some matches can be organised through the medium of the state cricket association only. "BCCI affiliation to the cricket association and construction of international cricket stadium are two different things and we cannot put them together," added the Minister.