Dawn of a new era

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RM7.5 mln stadium a good start to promote cricket

KUCHING: Sarawak is promoting cricket in a big way as the state is optimistic that it could become a powerhouse of the sport in the near future.

The first step towards realising this aspiration was the timely allocation of a six-acre site at a plot behind the Stadium Sarawak, Petra Jaya by the state government to construct a new cricket stadium.

The construction of the RM7.5 million stadium signal the dawn of a new era of cricket in the state as Sarawak is ready to make a quantum leap to become a cricket powerhouse.

“This new stadium is expected to be completed by 2014 and will be the permanent venue of international cricket tournaments in Sarawak and for Sukma 2016.

“We possessed the talents to excel in cricket and the proposed infrastructure (stadium) will certainly augment and complement our efforts to become a cricket powerhouse,” said Cricket Association of Sarawak president Awang Mahyan Awang Mohamad after presenting the proposal to construct the stadium to Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud in his office at Wisma Bapa Malaysia yesterday.

He added that the cricket stadium is the first of its kind to be built in East Malaysia and it will be a permanent home for the sport of cricket in the state.

The stadium will also functions as a training centre and centre of excellence for cricket for the states of Sarawak, Sabah and Federal Territory of Labuan.

“The new stadium is estimated to be completed in 2014. Once completed, it will house administrative offices, accommodation facilities, public facilities and other amenities such as shoplots,” revealed Awang Mahyan.

Awang Mahyan added that the association is serious in their efforts to produce quality local cricket players to represent the state and national team. With this facility, he is confident that Sarawak’s vision of becoming a cricket powerhouse is closer to becoming a reality.

Also present at the function yesterday was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development-cum-Deputy Chief de Mission of the Sarawak Sukma contingent, Affandi Keli.

Cricket, a social sport invented in the 14th century is very popular in most Commonwealth countries and is fast gaining prominence here in Sarawak.

Countries like India, Australia and Sri Lanka are among the traditional powerhouses of the sport which was introduced by the British hundreds of years ago to their overseas colony.