MCA to raise a residential women's academy

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is planning to establish a residential women's cricket academy in Mumbai. MCA president Ajinkya Naik has formally written to the state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis requesting a suitable plot of land within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) for the academy.

The proposed academy will serve as a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for women's cricket, offering world-class facilities including:

• Ground and indoor practice areas
• Gymnasium
• Physiotherapy and sports medicine support
• Residential accommodation
• Academic classrooms

The facility is designed to provide a centralized training and accommodation environment, helping women cricketers focus on their overall game and development.

Currently, women players in Mumbai face logistical challenges and travel long distances across the city and suburbs for practice sessions. The proposed residential setup will address these difficulties by providing a single integrated space for training, recovery, and education.

The request letter was handed over to the Chief Minister during a felicitation function honoring members of the state women's team that recently won the World Cup.

MCA president Ajinkya Naik stated: "The Mumbai Cricket Association has always been committed to advancing cricket infrastructure and nurturing talent across all levels. Establishing a dedicated Residential Women's Cricket Academy will be a major step forward in empowering women cricketers and strengthening Maharashtra's leadership in promoting women's sports."

The MCA has expressed readiness to invest in the facility's development and manage its operations on a not-for-profit basis, ensuring focus remains on player welfare and talent development. This proposal aligns with MCA's efforts to create a stronger, more inclusive cricketing ecosystem with equal opportunities and world-class infrastructure for both men and women cricketers.