The Andhra Cricket Association that is celebrating its diamond jubilee would felicitate more than 100 past cricketers who played for the association at its two-day festivities beginning Saturday.

The two-day festivities being organised here on Saturday and Sunday would have Test cricketer V.V.S. Laxman as chief guest, secretary Andhra Cricket Association and Narsapur MP Gokaraju Gangaraju announced at a media conference here on Friday. The association has set aside Rs 2.10 crore for cash awards to the past cricketers, he said.

The past cricketers have been divided into five groups based on the number of matches they have played for the association. Those who have played 1 to 4 matches would be given Rs 1 lakh, 5-9 Rs 2 lakh, 10-14 Rs 3 lakh, 15-19 Rs 4 lakh and 20-24 Rs 5 lakh. The ACA has identified 108 players who are eligible for these awards and with a view to ensuring that it does not become a monotonous award giving ceremony it has been spread over two days, he said.

The ACA has been helping needy cricketers financially and has been taking steps to train future cricketers. The ACA has set up cricket academies in three places – Vizianagaram, Kadapa and Mangalagiri – for boys and a cricket academy for women in Guntur. The association is not only accommodating the selected students in its hostel but also paying for their schooling to ensure that the trainees receive the best coaching in cricket and also are in a position to take up a career outside of cricket.

A number of trainees have been doing well in the south zone cricket and in fact six of the girls from the academy are in the women’s cricket team of the south zone, he said.