A state-of-the-art National Cricket Academy, spread over a 40-acre parcel of land, will soon be a reality with the BCCI completing the registration formalities here in Bangalore yesterday. Those who use the NCA extensively - players, coaches and other support staff - will have the added bonus of not having to brave the terrible Bangalore traffic, what with the Karnataka government-allotted land being in the vicinity of the airport.

Acting Hon Secretary of the BCCI Amitabh Choudhary, who had flown down for the registration of the land, was a delighted man. “All of you are aware that for the last 12 years we had been waiting for a separate parcel of land for NCA and the BCCI had even paid Rs 50 crores for this purpose way back in 2005. Unfortunately this had remained in a limbo and we began fresh efforts last year,” he said.