Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today reviewed the arrangements for the 2nd One Day International (ODI) cricket match to be played between India and Sri Lanka at I. S. Bindra Stadium, PCA Mohali, on December 13.Chairing a high-level review meeting, the Chief Minister directed DGP Suresh Arora to ensure foolproof security arrangements for players and the spectators. He also asked the DGP to direct the traffic authorities to make proper arrangements for the smooth movement of vehicular traffic on the match day and to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the local commuters.The Chief Minister appointed his Special Principal Secretary Gurkirat Kirpal Singh as the Chief Coordinator to oversee the arrangements for the match and attend the meetings of the steering committee constituted by PCA for the smooth conduct of the match.The Chief Minister asked PCA Former Honorary Secretary General M P Pandove to rope in young talent from Punjab in cricket, saying the state, especially the Malwa belt, abounds in cricketing talent among both men and women. He cited the example of Moga’s Ramandeep Kaur, who made Punjab proud through her scintillating performance at the recent Women's World Cup.Pandove told the Chief Minister that PCA was proactively imparting world class training to budding players to help them excel in national as well as international cricket tournaments.
Promising the PCA delegation that he would be there at the stadium to watch the match live, the Chief Minister shared his reminiscences of some of the past cricket matches, recalling, in particular, the performance of yesteryears’ leading fast bowler Amar Singh, who brought laurels for the country in international cricket.Pandove recalled Captain Amarinder’s family’s close connections with cricket and said he had personally witnessed Mahraja Yadvindra Singh play the game in his youth.Besides the DGP, Gurkirat Kirpal Singh and Pandove, the meeting was attended by Media Advisor to CM Raveen Thukral, Advisor to CM B I S Chahal, Principal Secretary to CM Tejveer Singh, President PCA Rajendra Gupta, ACS Cooperation cum Former President PCA D P Reddy, ACS Agriculture cum Former Honorary Treasurer PCA Viswajeet Khanna, Excise and Taxation Commissioner Vivek Pratap Singh, SSP Mohali Kuldeep S Chahal, DC Mohali Gurpreet Kaur Sapra, CA GMADA Ravi Bhagat, Chairman PSPCL A Venu Prasad, Secretary Sports G Balamurgam, Secretary PCA R P Singla, Former Secretary PCA G S Walia, and Commissioner Municipal Corporation Mohali Sandeep Hans.