Businessman builds private cricket stadium in Salem to shape young talent

Surrounded by hills on all the sides, the ground is located behind the centuries old Skandashramam temple at Udayapatti at the outskirts of the city. Just two kilometres from the Salem to Chennai national highway and nine kilometres from the Old Bus Stand in Salem City the ground that is about 800 feet above the sea level gives an appeal at par with English cricket grounds. 

“The ground will be ready for use in three months. In the next few years we will have at least one or two players from Salem region in the Indian cricket team and quite a few in the State and premier league teams. We are also aiming at having a women’s team from Salem that can have players in the national team as well,” said Parthiban. Work on the stadium began at the fag end of 2015. 

“Renowned experts extended technical support. I also visited international stadiums including the ones at Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai and wanted the one in Salem to be on a par with them,” he said. He said that works on the play area and wickets alone were carried out in 16 months. The gallery can accommodate 5,000 persons. 

“Seating capacity could be increased to 25,000 when premier events are conducted,” he confidently said. The stadium also has a dormitory to accommodate 50 students at a time along with kitchen and other amenities. 

“It is free for talented youth from poor families,” he said. The 48-year-old recalled that he had played for the school team, college team and also first division in Salem. But without scope, he quit playing in 1998. 

“Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts have many sports talents. But they cannot scale heights due to lack of good facilities,” he said. Parthiban said that he was inspired by media baron B Sivanthi Aditanar of Daily Thanthi group of publications, who was not only an educationalist and an industrialist but also a sportsman and philanthropist, who had lent support to deserving sports persons.