The Punjab Cricket Association approved a budget of Rs 3.5 crore for 2001-02 at its annual general body meeting at the PCA stadium in Mohali on Sunday, laying emphasis on coaching and equipment for district associations beside creating a unique benevolent fund scheme for former Punjab cricketers, a huge increase in the inter-district championship prize money, and advancement of the Centre of Excellence plan.

Addressing newsmen after the meeting of the PCA, its president, Inderjit Singh Bindra said that the association would spend a major chunk out of the budget amounting to Rs 30 lakh on coaching of players and providing equipments.The association had increased the prize money for the inter-district championships from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Besides, the winners and the runners-up will be awarded a cash prize from this season onward, he added.

Bindra further said that the association commended the outstanding performance of state team in various age groups of the North Zone championship. At least five Punjab players played for the Indian team last season. The AGM also decided to honour Harbhajan Singh and former Indian player Navjot Singh Sidhu for excelling at the highest level.

The meeting also complimented MP Pandove for successfully pleading PCA's case in the Board's Tour and Fixture committee meeting held at Jaipur to host the first Test against England from December 3 to 7 and the first One Day International against Zimbabwe on March 7 next year. Bindra revealed that a provision of Rs 25 lakh has been made in the budget for present and past cricketers of the state under the benevolent fund for players. The association from this season will register every player.

The executive committee also authorised the technical committee to fix all the venues of the Ranji Trophy and Deodhar Trophy matches allotted to the PCA during the ensuing season. The state teams in all age groups, including the Punjab Ranji team, will also have a sponsor from this year.

In an amendment of the PCA constitution carried out at the meeting, the AGM also approved the election of Prabhu Chawla (Editor, India Today) and Lalit Modi (of Modi Group) as two new vice-presidents in the association, thus bringing the number of vice presidents to five. The Modi group has agreed to sponsor the "Centre of Excellence" scheme of the association from this season, Bindra added.

© CricInfo