Former Indian fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad was elected as the new president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) in the elections held on Sunday, December 7. Prasad secured this victory by defeating K. N. Shanth Kumar, the candidate from the Brijesh Patel-backed panel.
SPORTS NEWS: Former Indian fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad has been elected as the new president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). In the elections concluded on Sunday, December 7, he took on this important responsibility by defeating his rival candidate K. N. Shanth Kumar. Shanth Kumar had the support of former KSCA president and IPL chairman Brijesh Patel, yet Venkatesh Prasad's team registered a splendid victory in the elections.
With this election, a new era is believed to have begun in Karnataka cricket administration. Venkatesh Prasad, who made his mark in international cricket with his fast bowling, is now set to give a new direction to Karnataka cricket in an administrative role.
Who is included in the new executive committee?
From Venkatesh Prasad's panel:
- Santosh Menon as the new secretary of KSCA
- Sujith Somasundar as vice-president
- Other members elected to various administrative positions
During their election campaign, this team had promised transparency, infrastructure development, and better facilities for players. Now, cricket fans are keen to see how the new administration delivers on its promises.
International Cricket to Return to Chinnaswamy Stadium
During their manifesto release and pre-election press conference, Venkatesh Prasad and his team highlighted the return of international cricket to M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as the most crucial issue. It is noteworthy that international matches have not been held at the stadium since a stampede incident occurred during the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) victory celebrations.
Prasad's team clarified that they would work with the state government and relevant agencies to strengthen security standards, enabling international matches to be hosted in Bengaluru again. They also stated that Chinnaswamy Stadium is not just a historical venue for Karnataka, but for cricket enthusiasts across the entire country, and restoring its prestige would be their priority.
D. K. Shivakumar's Big Statement
Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister and KSCA life member D. K. Shivakumar also arrived at the stadium during polling and cast his vote. In a conversation with the media, he clearly stated that IPL matches would not be allowed to leave Bengaluru under any circumstances. He said,
'IPL matches are the identity of Bengaluru and Chinnaswamy Stadium. This is a matter of Karnataka's prestige. We will ensure that all security standards are followed and no such unfortunate incident occurs in the future. Additionally, we will also work on building a new alternative cricket stadium.'
His statement clearly indicates that the state government and the KSCA will work together to further strengthen cricket infrastructure in Karnataka.
Venkatesh Prasad's International Career
Venkatesh Prasad is counted among those Indian fast bowlers who delivered several historic performances for India in the 1990s. For India, he played:
- 33 Test matches
- 161 ODI matches
He played and troubled top batsmen worldwide with his swing and seam bowling. Later, he also served as the bowling coach for the Indian team, playing a crucial role in grooming young bowlers.
