Cricket stadium named after YSR

The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) had decided to name the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium at Visakhapatnam as Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam, with immediate effect. A Emergency Circular Executive Committee Resolution was passed to this effect by the ACA, Association President Gokaraju Gangaraju said while addressing a press conference along with Indian Test Discard M S K Prasad here today.

Mr Gangaraju said Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, who died in a helicopter crash recently, was a great mass leader and an ardent promoter of all games with cricket in particular.

Chief Minister K Rosaiah and Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy's son and Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy felt very happy over ACA's decision, he said.

The ACA had also written letters to Mr Rosaiah and Mr Jagan expressing their condolence on Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy's demise.

The stadium with a capacity for 30,000 spectators had the approval of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for hosting international events.

It was equipped recently with flood lights under which the BCCI Corporate Trophy 2009 matches were played.

During the coming tour of Sri Lanka and South Africa to India, a one-day International Match would be held at this stadium.

The ACA also decided to organise Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy Memorial All India Invitation Cricket Tournament at Y S Raja Reddy ACA-Cricket Stadium at Kadapa, the home town of Dr Reddy, annually with substantial prize money, he revealed.

The ACA had already written to the BCCI for according approval to the above tournament where all teams in the country would be invited to take part.

The work on cricket stadium at Kadapa was in full swing and the stadium and play field will be ready by this year end. Dr Reddy had donated Rs 50 lakh from his family trust besides giving 12 acre of land for the stadium, he added.

The ACA had come forward to complete the stadium at an estimated budget of Rs six crore, he said.