Newly appointed KSCA President promises return of IPL and international cricket in Chinnaswamy

New Delhi. Newly elected Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) President and former India fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad has pledged to give priority to the overall development of Karnataka cricket along with ensuring the return of IPL and international cricket once again at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. This selection of Prasad is being considered as the beginning of a new chapter for KSCA. It is noteworthy that on June 4, during the Vijay Yatra organized for the IPL 2025 victory of Royal Challengers Bangalore, there was a stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium, in which 11 people lost their lives. After this incident, KSCA came under the scanner.

Prasad, who was previously the KSCA vice-president from 2010 to 2013, has played 33 Tests and 161 ODIs for India. He said the aim of his ‘Team Game Changers’ panel, which swept the elections, is to bring the organisation’s focus back to cricket and restore the Chinnaswamy Stadium’s reputation as a premier international venue.

Prasad wrote on social media platform

Former Indian cricketer Sujit Somasundar was on Sunday elected as the vice-president of KSCA, while Santosh Menon returned to the post of secretary. Menon had earlier also held this post from 2019 to 2022. B.N. Madhukar has been elected treasurer, while rival K.N. BK Ravi of Shant Kumar panel secured the post of Joint Secretary.

KSCA elections witnessed tough competition. Many nomination papers were rejected and a High Court case further heated up the election atmosphere. 1,307 votes were cast on Sunday, slightly less than the 2013 record of 1,351 votes.

Venkatesh Prasad got 749 votes, while his rival K.N. Shant Kumar received 588 votes. The Prasad panel also had the support of former Indian greats Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath, who served as KSCA president and secretary respectively between 2010 and 2013.

For the post of Vice President, Somasundar defeated D. Vinod Shivappa (588) by securing 719 votes. Santosh Menon won the post of Secretary by getting 672 votes. Defeated Jayaram (632). Madhukar won the post of Treasurer with 736 votes over M.S. Defeated Vinay (571). BK Ravi won the post of Joint Secretary with 669 votes. Defeated Shashidhar (638).

V.M. holds two life member posts of the Management Committee. Manjunath (690 votes) and Sailesh N. Poll (618 votes) was elected. From Bengaluru zone, former cricketer Kalpana Venkatachar (764 votes), Avinash Vaidya (691) and Ashish Amarlal (703) won all three available seats.